2l6 
Syrupus  Hypophosphitum. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
May,  1900. 
SYRUPUS  HYPOPHOSPHITUM. 
By  F.  W.  Haussmann. 
Recommendations  for  improving  this  syrup  may  be  briefly 
summed  up  as  follows :  (i)  Increase  in  the  amount  of  sugar.  The 
Pharmacopoeia  directs  500  grammes  in  i,coo  c.c.  of  syrup.  This 
is  obviously  insufficient,  and  should  be  increased  to  700  grammes. 
(2)  Increase  in  the  amount  of  diluted  hypophosphorous  acid. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  directs  2  grammes  of  diluted  10  per  cent, 
acid.  This  amount  is  insufficient  to  keep  the  calcium  hypophos- 
phite  in  solution.  It  has  frequently  been  the  writer's  experience 
that  precipitation  takes  place  in  the  syrup  which  may  be  prevented 
by  an  increase  of  acid.  If  2  grammes  of  the  commercial  50  per 
cent,  acid  or  10  grammes  of  the  10  per  cent,  are  used,  a  syrup  less 
liable  to  deposit  can  be  prepared.  The  property  of  the  acid  to 
increase  the  solubility  of  the  calcium  salt  brings  us  to  the  third 
suggestion,  a  slight  change  in  the  manipulation  in  making  the 
aqueous  solution  of  the  salt.  The  directions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
are  as  follows :  Triturate  the  hypophosphites  with  450  c.c.  of  water 
until  they  are  dissolved,  add  the  spirit  of  lemon  and  the  hypophos- 
phorous acid  and  filter  the  liquid. 
Commercial  calcium  hypophosphite  invariably  leaves  an  insoluble 
residue  when  triturated  with  water.  The  addition  of  hypophos- 
phorous acid  increases  the  solubility  of  the  calcium  hypophosphite, 
and  the  directions  should  therefore  read  as  follows  :  Triturate  the 
hypophosphites  with  350  c.c.  of  water,  allow  the  undissolved  por- 
tion to  settle  and  pour  off  the  clear  solution.  To  the  residue  add 
the  hypophosphorous  acid,  triturate  until  it  is  dissolved,  mix  the 
liquids,  add  the  spirit  of  lemon  and  filter.  In  the  filtrate  dissolve 
the  sugar  by  agitation  without  heat  and  strain. 
In  the  writer's  experience  percolation  furnishes  a  clearer  syrup 
than  if  prepared  by  agitation.  Incidentally  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  the  syrup  sometimes  acquires  a  terebinthinate  odor,  due  to  the 
oxidation  of  the  lemon  oil  in  the  spirit. 
In  view  of  the  points  mentioned,  the  following  formula  is  pro- 
posed for  the  syrup : 
SYRUPUS  HYPOPHOSPHITUM. 
Calcium  hypophosphite  45  grammes. 
Potassium  hypophosphite  15  " 
Sodium  hypophosphite   15  " 
