METHODS  OF  MAKING  MEDICINES  AGREEABLE,  ETC.  519 
lemon,  wintergreen,  pimento,  Ceylon  cinnamon,  etc.,  or  of 
spices ;  sugar,  when  not  contra-indicated,  is  also  an  allowable 
adjuvant. 
The  popularity  of  the  elixir  of  vitriol  over  the  dilute  acid  is 
owing  to  its  agreeability  to  the  taste  ;  dilute  phosphoric  acid 
should  have  added  to  it  a  solution  of  the  essential  oil  of  the  sweet 
orange. 
Comp.  tinct.  cardamom,  concent,  infus.  of  rose,  are  excel- 
lent additions  to  medicated  acids  or  vinegar,  covering  a  portion 
of  their  taste,  and  imparting  an  agreeable  color. 
Prussic  acid  is  best  given  in  syrup  of  marshmallow.  Lactic 
acid,  which  is  now  coming  into  use  as  a  remedy  for  dyspepsia, 
indigestion,  etc.,  is  made  into  an  agreeable  drink  with  water, 
sugar  and  essence  of  lemon ;  it  is  also  eligibly  exhibited  in  the 
form  of  a  pastill,  in  which  form,  also,  the  oxalic,  tartaric,  tannic 
and  citric  acids  are  most  available. 
Inert  powders,  or  those  which  are  comparatively  so,  it  is  said, 
can  be  made  to  produce  a  medicinal  effect  much  quicker  by  long 
trituration  with  sugar  of  milk ;  in  the  case  of  ipecacuanha  or 
of  opium,  this  effect  is  rendered  much  greater ;  long  trituration 
of  calomel  with  the  same  substance,  renders  minute  doses  of  it 
equal,  in  rapid  and  permanent  effect,  to  quite  large  ones  of  the 
drug  administered  in  the  ordinary  way. 
Tasteless  powders  should  be  administered  with  aromatics,  the 
milder  spices,  Ceylon  cinnamon  and  the  like  ;  astringent  powders 
can  in  this  way  be  rendered  less  unpleasant. 
Cane  sugar,  well  dried  and  reduced  to  the  finest  possible  state 
of  division,  by  long  trituration  in  a  mortar,  is  an  elegant  vehicle 
in  which  to  administer  the  alkaloids,  and  their  salts,  quinia, 
morphia,  etc.  ;  the  modus  operandi  is  as  follows  :  instead  of 
triturating  the  medicine  and  sugar  together,  mix  the  dose  in  its 
crystalline  state,  (without  breaking  it  up,)  by  means  of  a  spatula 
on  a  piece  of  paper,  with  a  sufficient  portion  of  the  sugar  pre- 
viously powdered.  In  this  way  each  crystal  becomes  enveloped 
with  a  dust  of  saccharine  powder,  and  when  placed  upon  the 
tongue  and  washed  down  with  a  draught  of  water,  leaves  nothing 
upon  it  but  the  sweet  impression  of  the  quickly  dissolved  sugar. 
Mr.  Maisch  recommends  the  administration  of  the  saline  pow- 
ders, ammonia  salts,  iron  salts,  potassa  salts,  etc.,  in  effervescing 
