PHARMACEUTICAL NOTICES. 
223 
Pharmacopoeia, 1839, is about equal in strength to that of the 
United States Pharmacopoeia, and we do not see why the revisors 
of the latter work can be censured for not adopting a formula the 
particulars of which they were perhaps not aware of, and the 
increased strength of which they did not approve. 
Compound Syrup of Squill. Mr. Coggeshall objects very pro- 
perly to the first process of the U. S. Pharm. for this syrup, as 
yielding an inelegant preparation. He objects to the second 
process also on the ground that the diluted alcohol is not as strong, 
or in as large quantity as it should be. In view of these presumed 
defects the following formula is offered. 
" Take of Seneka bruised, Squill bruised, each four ounces. 
Alcohol, Water, each two pints. 
Mix to form a tincture. Digest ten days, filter, and add twelve 
ounces of water, by way of displacement, evaporate by water bath 
to two pints, add 
Sugar, fifteen ounces. Honey eighteen ounces, 
Boil to three pints and a half, in which dissolve while hot, 
Tartar emetic fifty-six grains." 
In commenting on these remarks we would suggest that cold 
water alone is quite adequate for the extraction of seneka and 
squill, but both in squill and seneka there exists mucilaginous and 
gummy matters which interfere with the process of percolation 
when water is used. The addition of one sixth of alcohol in the 
United States process is to facilitate the passage of the solvent, 
and to cause it to reject a part of the mucilage. There is no ob- 
jection to having it more alcoholic, perhaps an advantage. In re- 
ference to the quantity of menstruum, it is sufficient, provided the 
officinal directions for conducting the displacement process are 
carefully followed. The formula offered by Mr. Coggeshall pre- 
sents an anomaly in syrups — so far as consistence is concerned. But 
15 ounces of sugar and 18 ounces of honey (about 13 fluid ounces) 
in 56 fluid ounces of syrup ! This is almost as far out of the way 
as the old process of 1830. Besides it is impossible to follow the 
directions to boil to three pints and a half, because 18 ounces of 
honey and 15 (troy) ounces of sugar when dissolved in two pints 
of the evaporated tincture, will not measure 56 fluid ounces before 
the ebullition commences, certainly not after it. Further; such 
a syrup will not keep, unless so much alcohol is retained in the 
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