Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  > 
Feb.  1, 1872.  J 
Pharmaceutical  Notes. 
67 
Syrup  of  Rhatany. 
Dry  Extract  of  Rhatany,  3  ounces. 
Rain  Water,  5  ounces. 
Simple  Syrup,  ,    15  fluidounces. 
Pulverize  the  extract,  mix  it  with  the  water  and  5  ounces  of  the 
syrup  in  a  capsule,  which  place  in  a  steam-bath,  occasionally  stirring 
with  a  glass  rod  until  the  extract  is  dissolved ;  add  the  rest  of  the 
syrup,  and  evaporate  to  18  fluidounces.  Each  fluid-drachm  contains 
10  grains  of  extract.* 
When  sulphuric  lemonade  is  prescribed  with  extract  of  rhatany  it 
is  necessary  to  add  a  little  gum  syrup  to  prevent  the  precipitation  of 
the  extract. 
Syrup  of  Valerian,  to  replace  infusions. 
Hydro-alcoholic  Ext.  of  Valerian  Root,  2  ounces, 
Rain  Water,  2  ounces, 
Simple  Syrup,  4  fluidounces. 
Concentrate  the  syrup  to  32°  Bme'.;  when  cooled  to  40  or  50°  C, 
add  the  extract  dissolved  in  the  water.  When  cold  it  has  36°  Bme. 
Each  fluidounce  contains  18  grains  of  extract,  equivalent  to  1  drachm 
of  the  root.  One  fluidounce  of  this  syrup  with  8  of  water  may  ad~ 
advantageously  replace  the  in  fusion. f 
Would  it  not  be  convenient  to  employ  syrups  for  preparing  drinks 
which  are  now  made  by  infusion  or  decoction?  There  would  result 
the  advantage  of  having  the  medicine  whenever  needed,  and  always 
with  the  same  proportion  of  medicinal  principles. 
The  fluid  extracts  would  be  very  useful  in  the  preparation  of  these 
syrups. 
Fluid  Extract  of  Opium. 
In  most  fluid  extracts  alcohol  is  used  as  the  vehicle  of  extraction 
and  preservation ;  but  as  opium,  from  its  nature,  completely  excludes 
this  liquid,  I  have  recurred  to  glycerin  for  the  preservation  of  this 
fluid  extract. 
Treat  the  opium  twice  with  cold  water,  according  to  the  proceeding 
described  by  Mr.  Soubeiran  in  his  treatise  on  Pharmacy.    Filter  and 
*  The  amount  of  extract  of  rhatany  contained  in  this  syrup  is  about  three 
times  larger  than  that  of  the  syrupus  krameriae,  U.  S. — Ed.  Am.  Journ.  Pharm. 
t  Only  one-half  the  strength — not  to  speak  of  the  quality — of  the  infusum  Va- 
lerianae, U.  S. — Ed.  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
