204     EXTEMPORANEOUS  PHARMACEUTICAL  PREPARATIONS, 
quantity  of  water  to  make  the  mixture  measure  one  fluid-ounce, 
a  perfect  emulsion  was  obtained  without  diflScultj. 
Remarks  The  extract,  if  of  a  good  quality,  is  perfectly  solu- 
ble in  all  proportions  in  olive  oil.  The  second  and  third  ex- 
periments are  both  introduced,  to  show  that  the  formula  will 
answer  for  both  dilute  and  concentrated  mixtures.  These  emul- 
sions, after  standing  undisturbed  for  six  months,  had  separated 
into  two  layers  ;  the  upper  one  being  apparently  composed  of 
the  extract,  oil  and  gum  in  combination.  The  lower  one  was 
almost  perfectly  colorless.  A  slight  agitation,  however,  suflSced 
to  mix  them  perfectly,  as  when  first  Combined.  No  perceptible 
alteration  had  taken  place,  either  in  taste  or  odor,  during  the 
lapse  of  time  above  mentioned. 
In  view  of  the  increased  use  of  cannabis  indica,  would  it  not 
be  well  to  introduce  to  the  notice  of  physicians  a  syrup  of  that 
article,  containing  from  one  to  four  grains  to  the  fluid-ounce  ? 
Ifc  could  be  very  easily  prepared  by  forming  an  emulsion,  as  be- 
fore directed,  and  adding  a  sufficient  quantity  of  simple  syrup  to 
make  up  the  required  measure ;  flavoring  to  suit  the  taste. 
While  experimenting  with  the  extract  of  cannabis  indica,  I 
discovered  that  one  of  the  specimens  which  came  under  my  ob- 
servation, although  a  well  authenticated  article  of  Squire's 
manufacture,  was  not  entirely  soluble  in  strong  alcohol ;  twenty 
per  cent,  of  it  consisting  of  a  reddish-brown  substance,  soluble 
in  water.     This  was  not  found  in  any  other  specimen. 
ON  THE  BEST  METHOD  OF  SUSPENDING  RESIN  OF  GUAIACUM 
IN  AQUEOUS  MIXTURES. 
Uxp.  1st. — Thirty  grains  of  gum  guaiacum  were  softened  in 
one  fluid-drachm  of  olive  oil,  by  means  of  trituration,  in  a  slight- 
ly heated  mortar ;  by  continuing  the  trituration  for  some  time, 
a  pasty  solution  was  obtained.  This  was  made  into  an  emulsion 
without  any  difficulty,  with  two  drachms  of  gum  arable  and  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  water  to  increase  the  measure  to  one  fluid- 
ounce. 
This  recipe  did  not  perfectly  stand  the  test  of  time ;  at  the 
end  of  six  months  the  emulsion  had  separated,  one  portion 
having  risen  to  the  top ;  this  was  readily  mixed  with  the  liquid 
portion  by  agitation,  and  formed  a  very  dense  emulsion  :  another 
portion,  of  a  brown  color,  had  settled  to  the  bottom ;  it  seemed 
