388         Notes  on  Mixir  of  Pepsin,  Bismuth,  etc,  \ 
sary  that  it  should  be  acid,  not  only  on  account  of  the  pepsin  being 
quickly  injured  by  alkalies,  but  that  the  strychnia  may  be  held  in 
perfect  solution. 
In  one  fluid-ounce  of  this  elixir,  which  had  been  made  about  thirty 
days,  and  which  contained — 
16  grains  Boudault's  pepsin, 
4     "     ammonio-citrate  of  bismuth, 
T^     "  strychnia, 
was  digested  some  coagulated  albumen  at  a  temperature  of  100°  1 J 
for  six  hours.    There  was  dissolved  six  grains. 
2d.  One  fluid-ounce  of  the  same  elixir,  to  which  was  added  six  drops 
of  hydrochloric  acid,  and  digested  with  coagulated  albumen  for  the 
same  time  and  at  the  same  temperature,  dissolved  twenty  and  one- 
half  grains. 
3d.  One  and  one-half  fluid-ounce  of  wine  of  pepsin,  made  of  six 
drachms  sherry  wine,  and  the  remaining  six  of  syrup,  glycerin  and 
distilled  water,  and  containing  sixteen  grains  Boudault's  pepsin, 
treated  as  above,  for  six  hours,  dissolved  thirty  grains  of  coagulated 
albumen. 
4th.  Sixteen  grains  of  Boudault's  pepsin,  triturated  with  one  ounce 
distilled  water,  filtered  from  the  starchy  matter,  coagulated  albumen 
added  to  the  filtrate,  and  digested  at  100°  F.  for  six  hours,  dissolved 
five  and  three-tenth  grains. 
In  the  second  case  the  addition  of  hydrochloric  acid  increased  the 
digestive  action  of  the  elixir,  although  it  caused  a  precipitation  of  the 
bismuth  salt ;  but  this  more  nearly  represents  the  result  following 
fhe  ingestion  of  the  elixir,  and  the  precipitation  of  the  bismuth  is  not 
objectionable,  as  it  is  frequently  given  in  powder. 
We  need  some  uniform  standard  for  the  preparation  of  such  elixirs 
as  have  merit.  It  is  true  that  the  pharmacists  of  three  or  four  cities 
in  the  United  States  have  adopted  formulas  for  elixirs,  but  those  of 
one  city  differ  somewhat  from  those  of  another. 
The  suggestion  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Russel,  to  which  Prof.  Maisch  called 
attention  in  the  August  number  of  the  Journal,  meets  the  approval  of 
pharmacists  generally,  viz.,  that  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Asso- 
ciation, through  a 'Committee,  select  formulae  for  this  class  of  prepara- 
tions. The  Association  being  national  in  character,  and  its  proceedings 
widely  disseminated,  their  action  in  this  matter  would  give  more  uni- 
formity than  any  authority  excepting  the  U.  S.  P. 
Middletown,  N.  Y.9  Aug.,  1872. 
