20  Revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.    { Am- /££%§?rm" 
should  be  directed  to  be  crystals  as  the  experience  of  the  writer  is  that 
the  commercial  powdered  acid  when  used  in  this  preparation  causes 
liberation  of  iodine.  The  use  of  hypophosphite  of  potassium  as  a 
preservative  is  unnecessary,  provided  a  small  amount  of  sugar  is 
added  to  the  acid  solution  before  filtering.  The  official  directions 
to  evaporate  the  solution  on  a  water-bath,  and  when  cold  to  mix 
with  syrup  is  likely  to  result  in  decomposition  of  the  hydriodic 
acid  ;  why  not  direct  the  acid  solution  to  be  filtered  into  sugar  and  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  distilled  water  added  and  the  sugar  dissolved 
by  agitation  ?  In  the  report  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  Committee  of 
the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  submitted  to  the  National 
Convention,  will  be  found  a  formula  containing  these  suggestions. 
To  test  this  formula  samples  have  been  preserved  for  over  a  year, 
and  in  one  instance  for  over  three  years,  with  satisfactory  results. 
The  addition  of  a  small  amount  of  spirit  of  orange  would  improve 
this  syrup  and  give  it  distinguishing  character. 
The  addition  of  both  alcohol  and  glycerin  in  the  formula  for 
Syrup  of  Althaea  is  endorsed  and  will  render  this  a  more  stable  pre- 
paration than  it  has  been  in  the  past. 
The  directions  for  preparing  Syrup  of  Almond  is  sadly  erroneous, 
and  we  can  only  conjecture  what  the  intention  was.  In  the  formula, 
200  cc.  of  water  is  directed  and  quantity  sufficient  of  syrup  to  make 
1,000  cc. ;  but  in  the  instructions  330  cc.  of  water  is  used,  and  then 
in  addition  water  to  make  the  product  measure  1,000  cc.  For  the 
latter,  syrup  evidently  was  intended. 
In  Syrup  of  Orange,  the  orange  peel  cut  into  shreds  is  boiled 
with  alcohol  for  5  minutes  and  after  cooling  the  tincture  expressed. 
Macerating  the  orange  peel,  grated  from  the  fruit,  with  the  alcohol 
for  2  or  3  days  without  heat,  and  then  expressing  and  washing  the 
residue  with  sufficient  alcohol  would  be  preferable. 
In  Syrup  of  Calcium  Lactophosphate  the  salt  is  directed  to  be 
prepared  by  dissolving  the  calcium  carbonate  in  lactic  acid  and 
adding  phosphoric  acid.  There  is  a  decided  excess  of  acid  directed. 
Stronger  orange  flower  water  should  be  directed  and  was  most  likely 
intended  as  the  quantity  directed  to  be  used  is  much  less  than  that 
ordered  in  1880. 
The  saccharine  strength  of  Syrup  of  Ferrous  Iodide  is  now  less 
than  50  per  cent,  instead  of  60  per  cent,  in  1880,  and  syrup  is  used 
instead  of  sugar,  the  boiling  ferrous  iodide  solution  is  filtered  into 
