ON  SOME  PREPARATIONS  OF  TIIE  U.  S.  PHARMACOPOEIA.  305 
Confectio  Sennce. — This  is  the  only  formula  of  its  class  that 
has  been  changed.  The  new  formula,  in  many  respects,  is  an 
improvement  on  the  old  one.  First,  in  the  preliminary  prepa- 
ration of  each  pulp  ;  and,  secondly,  in  the  omission  of  the 
liquorice  root  and  boiling  of  the  figs  with  it  in  the  water,  with 
the  residue  of  the  senna  and  coriander.  Now,  the  pulpaceous 
ingredients  are  all  treated  together  at  one  operation,  using  as 
much  of  each  substance  as  will  yield  the  quantity  of  pulp  re- 
quired. Then  the  sugar  is  added  and  the  whole  cooked  until 
reduced  to  a  definite  quantity,  which  is  intended  to  be  that 
which  on  the  addition  of  the  senna  and  coriander  will  give  the 
proper  consistence  without  further  evaporation.  It  will  be  found 
that  an  advantage  will  arise,  as  regards  the  keeping  of  the  con- 
fection, if  the  senna  and  coriander  powders  are  added  whilst  the 
syrupy  pulp  is  quite  hot,  which  renders  the  confection  less  likely 
to  mould — the  heat  coagulating  or  cooking  the  albumen  in  these 
drugs.  If  correctly  made  the  preparation  should  be  smooth, 
aromatic  and  not  unpleasant  to  the  taste.  It  will  be  observed 
that  the  formula  calls  for  the  senna  and  coriander  in  fine  powder. 
The  finer  these  are  obtained  the  smoother  will  the  confection  be, 
unless  it  be  contaminated  with  particles  of  the  capsules  of  the 
purging  cassia,  which  sometimes  octfurs  from  the  careless  prepa- 
tion  of  the  pulps. 
Deeocta. — No  additions  or  removals  have  been  made  in  this 
class.  The  only  changes  relate  to  the  manipulation,  which  re- 
sults in  obtaining  always  a  given  quantity  of  the  decoction  by 
percolating  the  dregs  with  water  on  the  strainer.  In  some  few 
instances,  like  Decoctum  Cetrarice,  Cinchonce,  etc.,  it  is  preferable 
to  percolate  with  boiling  water,  because  of  the  precipitating  in- 
fluence of  cold  on  these  decoctions, 
Emplastrum  Antimonii. — Heretofore  in  making  tartar  emetic 
plasters  it  has  been  most  usual  to  sprinkle  the  salt  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  recently  spread  but  yet  warm  plaster.  In  the  new 
preparation  one-fourth  of  the  gross  weight  of  the  plaster  is  tar- 
tar emetic.  Of  the  general  mass  of  the  salt  contained  in  the 
plaster,  but  a  small  portion  is  active,  owing  to  the  particles  being 
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