72 
Syrupus  Pruni  Virginiance. 
J  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I    February,  1900. 
ACETOUS  SYRUP  OF  WILD  CHERRY. 
The  idea  of  employing  a  weak  acetic  acid  menstruum  in  prepar- 
ing syrup  of  wild  cherry  was  not  entertained  until  the  possibility 
of  its  advantages  was  pointed  out  by  Prof.  Jos.  P.  Remington. 
Opinions  on  the  advisability  of  using  acetic  acid  as  menstruum 
are  frequently  voiced  at  present,  and  objections  to  this  innovation 
are  as  usual  vigorously  recorded. 
The  employment  of  weak  acetic  acid  in  the  preparation  of  syrups, 
besides  those  of  garlic  and  squill,  would  not  be  an  innovation  in 
the  Pharmacopoeia,  as  a  precedent  is  established  in  the  case  of  syrup 
of  ipecacuanha,  and  probably  no  pharmacist  will  return  to  the  old 
method  of  preparing  the  syrup  by  admixture  of  fluid  extract  and 
syrup. 
The  writer  admits  that  at  the  beginning  he  employed  acetic  acid 
in  preparing  wild  cherry  syrup  with  considerable  reserve,  if  not 
prejudice,  but  as  the  acid  percentage  was  decreased,  the  respect  for 
the  menstruum  increased,  and  it  was  found  that  a  preparation  con- 
taining I  or  2  per  cent,  of  acetic  acid  furnished  an  excellent  substi- 
tute for  the  official  article. 
As  in  the  case  of  the  latter,  a  number  of  trials  were  made  to 
determine  the  proper  amount  of  glycerin.  Syrup  containing  10 
per  cent,  of  glycerin  and  made  with  a  I  or  2  per  cent,  acetic  acid 
menstruum  was  found  to  give  the  best  satisfaction. 
Employed  to  a  limited  degree  in  counter  and  dispensing  practice, 
no  objection  has  as  yet  been  heard,  and  the  pleasant  acidulous  taste 
is  apparently  an  advantage  from  a  mercantile  standpoint. 
The  following  is  the  formula  for  syrup  prepared  with  a  menstruum 
containing  I  per  cent,  of  acetic  acid : 
Wild  cherry,  in  No.  20  powder  150  grammes. 
Sugar.   .750 
Glycerin  ..  100  c.c. 
Mix  the  glycerin  with  300  c.c.  of  a  mixture  composed  of  1  part 
of  diluted  acetic  acid  and  5  parts  of  water. 
Moisten  the  wild  cherry  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  liquid 
and  macerate  for  twenty-four  hours  in  a  closed  vessel,  then  pack  it 
firmly  in  a  cylindrical  percolator  and  pour  on  the  remainder  of  the 
menstruum.    When  the  liquid  has  disappeared  from  the  surface, 
Diluted  acetic  acid 
Water 
of  each  a  sufficient  quantity  to  make  i,< 
1,000  c.c. 
