290 
Syrup  of  Tolu. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1887. 
The  absolute  alcohol  extract  amounted  to  9  90  per  cent.,  and  con- 
tained 5'45  per  cent,  of  tannin,  which  was  estimated  by  both  acetate 
of  lead  and  acetate  of  copper.  A  separate  determination  by  means  of 
gelatin  and  alum  gave  somewhat  higher  results. 
There  were  also  found  arbutin  and  ericolin,  confirming  the  work  of 
Oxley  (1872.) 
A  small  amount  of  arbutin  was  prepared  by  taking  1000  grams  of 
the  drug,  extracting  with  hot  water,  treating  the  solution  with  lead 
hydrate  to  remove  tannin,  and  with  H2S  to  remove  lead.  The  filtrate 
was  evaporated  to  a  soft  extract,  treated  with  alcohol,  and  the  alcohol- 
ic solution  set  aside.  Crystals  of  arbutin  slowly  formed,  but  the 
amount  was  considerably  smaller  than  was  expected. 
Both  the  ethereal  and  alcoholic  extracts  were  tested  for  alkaloids 
with  negative  results.  Starch  and  calcium  oxalate  were  also  shown  to 
be  absent. 
SYRUP  OF  TOLU. 
Editor  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  : — I  have  read  with 
interest  the  article  by  F.  Stevenson  on  Syrup  of  Tolu,  in  the  May 
issue  of  the  Journal,  and  would  like  to  add  my  little  experience  in 
the  manufacture  of  this  syrup.  I  think  the  pharmacopoeial  process 
can  be  improved  upon.  The  process  which  I  have  used  for  some  time 
— and  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  Prof.  Remington — is  this :  For 
making  twenty-five  ounces  of  syrup,  take  one  ounce  of  Balsam  of 
Tolu,  one  pound  of  granulated  sugar,  and  water  which  has  been  pre- 
viously filtered  through  animal  charcoal,  enough  to  make  twenty- 
five  ounces  (these  are  essentially  the  quantities  directed  by  the  U.  S. 
P.) ;  rub  the  Tolu  to  a  fine  powder,  aided  by  some  of  the  sugar,  and 
mix  this  with  the  remainder  of  the  granulated  sugar  ;  now  prepare  a 
percolator  by  placing  a  piece  of  cotton  in  the  neck,  pack  the  powder 
in  it,  pour  in  the  filtered  water  and  receive  twenty-five  ounces  of  per- 
colate. As  seen,  this  is  simply  a  process  of  cold  percolation,  but  if 
carried  out  as  described,  will  furnish  a  beautiful,  clear  and  highly 
flavored  syrup,  which  is  so  desirable.  This  formula,  I  am  sure,  can- 
not fail  to  give  satisfaction.  Yours, 
W.  H.  HOSTELLEY. 
Philadelphia,  May  7th,  1887. 
