Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
May,  1900.  J 
Syrnpus  Ferri  Qainincz. 
219 
SYRUPUS  FERRI  QUININ/E  ET  STRYCHNINE 
PHOSPHATUM. 
By  F.  W.  Haussmann. 
Easton's  syrup  has  received  a  great  deal  of  criticism  from  various 
sources.  To  British  pharmacists  it  appears  to  be  the  source  of  con- 
siderable difficulty,  and  much  of  the  knowledge  pertaining  to  the 
syrup  is  the  result  of  their  painstaking  investigations. 
In  a  previous  paper  attention  was  called  to  the  influence  which 
acids  exert  upon  official  syrups,  and  this  preparation  was  one  of 
those  mentioned. 
The  difficulty  with  Easton's  syrup  is  the  one  common  to  all, 
namely,  darkening  due  to  caramelization. 
This  cannot  be  avoided  as  long  as  an  excessive  amount  of  free 
acid  is  present,  and  if  the  quantities  of  the  original  Aitkins'  for- 
mula are  adhered  to  a  permanent  syrup,  as  far  as  stability  of  color 
is  concerned,  is  impossible. 
To  the  pharmacists  of  the  United  States  the  present  official  for- 
mula is  of  sole  importance.  The  Pharmacopoeia  of  1880  directs 
the  syrup  to  be  prepared  directly  from  sugar,  while  the  present 
edition,  with  the  view  of  saving  time,  directs  admixture  of  the  con- 
centrated solution  of  active  ingredients  to  simple  syrup.  In  either 
case  the  syrup  will  turn  dark  on  standing.  The  various  statements 
of  the  influence  of  light,  the  recommendation  of  keeping  the  syrup 
in  a  cool  place  and  in  amber-colored  bottles,  and  similar  sugges- 
tions, while  possibly  retarding,  will  not  prevent  this  change. 
Aside  from  this,  the  official,  formula  is  open  to  criticism  in  several 
minor  respects.  The  Pharmacopoeia  directs  the  soluble  ferric  phos- 
phate to  be  heated  with  water  in  a  capsule  until  it  is  dissolved. 
The  acid  is  now  directed  to  be  added,  also  the  quinine  sulphate 
and  strychnine,  and  the  mixture  stirred  until  dissolved.  No  men. 
tion  is  made  if  the  heat  is  to  be  continued  or  not.  If  solution  is 
expected  to  take  place  without  continuation  of  a  gentle  heat,  the 
operator  will  be  disappointed,  as  perfect  solution  will  not  take  place. 
The  next  step  is  the  direction  to  filter  the  iron  alkaloidal  solution 
into  the  glycerin.  This  solution  is  a  thick  syrupy  liquid,  and  much 
difficulty  will  be  experienced  in  the  attempt. 
The  necessity  for  filtration  is  not  apparent,  as,  if  carefully  manipu- 
lated, a  fairly  clear  solution  will  be  obtained.  Directions  for  filter- 
ing may  therefore  be  omitted. 
