SYRUP  OF  LACTUCARIUM   AND  SOME  OTHER  SYRUPS.  219 
Rub  the  lactucarium  first  with  the  carbonate  of  magnesia  and 
an  ounce  of  sugar  until  thoroughly  reduced  to  powder,  and 
then  with  a  fluid  ounce  of  alcohol ;  after  which  pour  in  water 
with  constant  stirring  until  half  a  pint  has  been  added.  The 
whole  is  now  poured  into  a  paper  filter  ;  and  after  the  liquid  has 
ceased  to  pass,  pour  on  more  water  until  a  pint  has  been  ob- 
tained. Evaporate  this  liquor  to  nine  fluid  ounces  by  a  moderate 
heat  (150°  F.),  add  the  remainder  of  the  sugar,  and  by  the 
aid  of  heat  form  a  syrup  which  should,  when  finished,  measure 
a  pint. 
Syrup  of  lactucarium  thus  prepared  has  the  sensible  proper- 
ties of  the  drug  in  a  marked  degree,  is  perfectly  transparent, 
with  the  color  of  officinal  paregoric  at  first,  but  becomes  rather 
darker.  Each  teaspoonful  contains  the  soluble  portion  of  nearly 
two  grains  of  lactucarium,  or  15  grains  to  the  fluid  ounce. 
Syrupus  Capsici. 
Take  of  Cayenne  Pepper,  in  fine  powder,  two  drachms, 
Carbonate  of  Magnesia,  one  drachm, 
Sugar,  in  coarse  powder,  fourteen  ounces,  troy, 
Alcohol,  Water,  each,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Rub  the  Cayenne  pepper  first  with  the  carbonate  of  magnesia 
and  sugar,  and  then  with  a  fluid  ounce  of  alcohol,  and  slowly 
pour  in  the  water  until  six  fluid  ounces  have  been  added.  The 
whole  is  then  to  be  transferred  to  a  proper  filter ;  and  when|the 
liquor  has  ceased  to  pass,  pour  on  water  until  nine  fluid  ounces 
of  filtered  liquor  are  obtained.  To  this  add  the  remainder  of 
the  sugar,  and  by  a  gentle  heat  form  a  pint  of  syrup. 
Made  in  this  manner  syrup  of  capsicum  is  a  pungent  yellow- 
ish brown  syrup,  each  teaspoonful  of  which  contains  nearly  two 
grains  of  Cayenne  pepper. 
Syrupus  Balsami  Peruviani. 
Take  of  Balsam  of  Peru,  two  drachms, 
Carbonate  of  Magnesia,  two  drachms, 
Sugar,  in  powder,         fourteen  ounces, 
Alcohol,  Water,  each,    a  sufficient  quantity. 
Proceed  in  the  manner  directed  for  syrup  of  capsicum,  and 
make  a  pint  of  syrup. 
