114  ON  SOME  PREPARATIONS  OF  CALAMUS  ROOT. 
and  they  are  by  no  means  inactive  in  a  medicinal  point  of  view. 
If  we  therefore  wish  to  preserve  for  these  syrups  the  character 
of  medicinal  preparations,  and  not  degrade  them  to  mere  flavor- 
ing liquids,  we  ought  to  retain  besides  the  volatile  oils  also  the 
resinous  matters,  The  process  of  our  present  Pharmacopoeia  I 
consider  unobjectionable,  if  strictly  followed  ;  frequent  agitation 
of  the  powdered  sugar  while  the  alcohol  is  being  evaporated,  not 
only  favors  this  process,  but  likewise  the  intimate  mixture  of 
sugar  and  resin,  and  the  complete  subsequent  suspension  of  the 
insoluble  matter  in  the  saccharine  liquid. 
Calamus  Cordial. — In  attempting  to  make  such  a  preparation 
from  the  above  fluid  extract,  Mr.  Hayes  found  that  but  a  small 
portion  of  the  same  could  be  obtained  in  perfect  solution  in  a 
diluted  alcoholic  liquid  as  they  are  generally  employed  for  this 
class  of  fancy  preparations.  The  following  appeared  to  be  the 
most  available  and  pleasant: 
Take  of  Fluid  Extract  of  Calamus,  two  fluid  drachms, 
Tincture  of  Cinnamon,        «  " 
Syrup  of  Orange  Peel,     seven  fluid  ounces, 
French  Brandy,  seven  and  a  half  fluid  ounces. 
Mix  them. 
This  preparation  is  transparent,  of  a  reddish  yellow  color,  and 
has  a  strong  but  agreeable  calamus  taste.  The  sugar  of  the 
syrup,  which  keeps  the  oleoresinous  matter  perfectly  suspended, 
appears  to  rather  better  disguise  the  persistent  calamus  taste. 
The  cordial  contains  a  large  amount  of  alcohol,  and  each  table- 
spoonful  represents  nearly  four  grains  of  the  root. 
Trochisci  Calami. — The  following  preparation  is  offered  as  a 
very  agreeable  way  for  giving  calamus  in  cases  of  flatulency  and 
dyspepsia. 
Take  of  White  sugar,  six  ounces, 
Fluid  Extract  of  Calamus,  one  fluid  ounce, 
Oil  of  Fennel,  twenty  minims, 
Oil  of  Aniseed,  "  " 
Rub  them  together,  and  with  mucilage  of  tragacanth  form  a 
mass  which  is  to  be  divided  into  160  lozenges,  each  of  which  will 
represent  three  grains  of  calamus,  and  about  one-fourth  of  a 
drpp  each  of  oil  of  fennel  and  anise. 
It  is  not  deemed  necessary  in  this  place  to  dwell  much  on  the 
