Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  1 
May  1,  1872.  j 
Mel  Rosce. 
203 
The  following  is  the  formula  I  have  adopted : 
fy.    Hydrarg.  Oxid.  Rub.  subt.  pulv.,  3i. 
Olei  Ricini,  3vi. 
Cerae  Albse,  311. 
Misce  1.  a. 
This  ointment  will  preserve  its  beautiful  reddish  color  and  proper 
consistence  for  years  without  change. 
Fowlers  Solution. — I  have  altered  the  process  of  the  U.  S.  Phar- 
macopoeia for  making  Fowler's  Solution,  it  being  too  tedious,  and  re- 
quiring at  least  from  2  to  3  hours'  boiling  or  the  heat  of  a  water-bath. 
I  would  therefore  submit  the  following  mode  of  preparation : 
Take  of  arsenious  acid,  in  pieces,  and  bicarbonate  of  potassa  each 
64  grs.  Immerse  them  into  a  test-tube  of  the  capacity  of  1  oz.  or 
more ;  add  the  smallest  quantity  of  distilled  water  that  is  necessary, 
about  2  to  3  drachms,  and  boil  the  mixture  over  an  alcohol  or  gas 
lamp.  The  carbonic  acid  will  be  evolved,  and  the  combination  of 
arsenious  acid  with  the  potassa  formed  immediately  in  less  than  two 
minutes.  To  the  solution  add  sufficient  distilled  water  and  J  oz. 
comp.  spirits  of  lavender,  to  make  it  measure  1  pint,  and  filter.  By 
taking  6  drachms  of  water,  or  more,  I  could  not  procure  a  perfect 
solution  within  an  hour,  even  by  using  a  test-tube.  My  opinion  is 
that  only  a  very  concentrated  solution  of  the  potassa  carbonate  dis- 
solves the  arsenious  acid  so  quickly. 
This  method  will  enable  a  skillful  pharmaceutist  to  make  a  gallon 
of  unfiltered  Fowler's  Solution  in  about  5  minutes,  which  is  less  time 
than  many  extemporaneous  prescriptions  require. 
Indianapolis,  March  22,  1872. 
MEL  ROS^E. 
By  E.  C.  Trembly. 
From  the  Author's  Inaugural  Essay. 
My  attention  was  first  called  to  this  subject  by  hearing  the  com- 
plaints of  others,  more  experienced  than  myself,  against  the  officinal 
preparation.    Subsequently,  I  met  with  a  sample  that  had  been  made 
strictly  according  to  the  standard  formula,  and  kept  in  a  glass  stop- 
pered bottle,  in  a  state  totally  unfit  for  use,  owing  to  a  deposit  of 
saccharine  matter  that  had  gone  on  until  the  entire  quantity  had  as- 
sumed a  non-fluid  condition. 
