292  On  some  Pectoral  Powders,  etc.  {k"'£\^Jm*' 
ON  SOME  PECTORAL  POWDERS  OF  EUROPEAN  PHARMACY. 
By  the  Editor. 
At  the  request  of  two  correspondents  we  publish  the  following 
formulas  of  preparations,  which  are  more  or  less  used  on  the  continent 
of  Europe,  and  occasionally  prescribed  in  this  country.  The  two  first 
formulas  yield  a  mild  aperient  preparation. 
Pulvis  glycyrrhizce  (s,  liquiritios)  compositus  ;  Pulvis  pectoralis  Ku- 
rellce  is  prepared,  by  the  German  pharmacopoeias,  by  mixing  inti- 
mately the  powders  of  senna  and  liquorice  root,  each  2  parts  ;  fennel 
and  flowers  of  sulphur,  each  1  part-;  sugar  6  parts.* 
The  formula  of  the  Greek  pharmacopoeia  differs  somewhat,  as  fol- 
lows :  liquorice  root  and  senna,  each  6  parts  ;  sugar  3  parts  ;  anise  2 
and  sulphur  4  parts. 
The  Belgian  pharmacopoeia  orders  :  marshmallow  root,  36  parts; 
orris  root,  liquorice  root,  tragacanth  and  sugar,  of  each,  16  parts. 
Pulvis  pectoralis  antispasticus. — The  Danish  pharmacopoeia  uses 
ipecac  and  opium,  of  each,  1  part ;  starch,  40,  sugar,  80  parts.  This 
preparation  is  twelve  times  weaker  than  Dover's  powder. 
Pulvis  pectoralis  resolvens. — The  same  pharmacopoeia  mixes  equal 
weights  of  flowers  of  sulphur,  orris  root  and  Indian  turnip  (Arummacu- 
latum). 
Pulvis  pectoralis  Trossii;  Saccharolatum  lichenis  Islandici. — The 
old  Hamburg  pharmacopoeia  prepares  it  as  follows  :  2  parts  of  Iceland 
moss  are  twice  boiled  with  32  parts  of  water  until  16  parts  are  left ; 
the  liquids  are  expressed,  strained,  mixed  and  evaporated  to  10  parts  ; 
when  somewhat  cooled,  8  parts  of  strong  alcohol  are  added,  the  pre- 
cipitated jelly  is  collected,  washed  and  mixed  with  1  part  of  sugar, 
when  it  is  carefully  evaporated  to  dryness,  and  powdered. 
The  Sleswick-Holstein  pharmacopoeia  removes  the  bitter  principle 
by  an  alkali,  and  manipulates  as  follows  :  1 J  oz.  Iceland  moss  are 
macerated  with  hot  water  containing  one  drachm  carbonate  of  potas- 
sa;  after  24  hours  the  liquid  is  expressed,  the  residue  washed  with  cold 
water,  and  then  boiled  with  24  oz.  water  until  6  oz.  remain  behind, 
in  which  4  oz.  sugar  are  dissolved  by  boiling.  The  solution,  on  cool- 
ing, forms  a  good  jelly,  which  constitutes  gelatina  lichenis  islandici 
edidcorata.  Six  parts  of  this,  4  parts  sugar  and  one  part  gum  arabic 
are  mixed,  dried  and  rubbed  to  a  uniform  powder. 
*The  formula  published  on  page  336  of  the  Philadelphia  Medical  Times,  re- 
quiring but  3  parts  of  sugar,  is  that  of  the  sixth  Prussian  Pharmacopoeia  of 
1846.  and  not  in  use  in  Germany  since  1862. 
