EDITORIAL.  578 
sential  ingredients,  and  not  to  the  proportion  of  phosphates  in  any  important 
degree  ;  and  hence  we  feel  confidence  in  publishing  this  recipe : 
Chemical  Food. 
Take  of  Protosulphate  of  Iron  gx. 
Phosphate  of  Soda  ox*j- 
Phosphate  of  Lime  3xij* 
Phosphoric  Acid,  glacial  gxx. 
Carbonate  of  Soda  gij. 
Carbonate  of  Potassa  gi. 
Muriatic  Acid         \  c      ,      «,  .  , 
,      „  .         .    >oi  eacn  sufficient 
Water  of  Ammonia  £ 
Powdered  Cochineal  gij. 
Water,  sufficient  to  make  f  ^xx. 
Sugar  lb.  iij.  (Troy.) 
Oil  of  Orange  m.  x. 
Dissolve  the  sulphate  of  iron  in  f.^ij.  of  boiling  water,  and  the  phos- 
phate of  soda  in  f.^iv.  of  boiling  water.  Mix  the  solutions,  and  wash  the 
precipitated  phosphate  of  iron  till  the  washings  are  tasteless. 
Dissolve  the  phosphate  of  lime  in  four  fluidounces  of  boiling  water  with 
sufficient  muriatic  acid  to  make  a  clear  solution,  precipitate  it  with  water 
of  ammonia,  and  wash  the  precipitate. 
To  the  freshly  precipitated  phosphates  as  thus  prepared,  add  the  phos- 
phoric acid  previously  dissolved  in  the  water.  When  clear  add  the  car- 
bonates of  soda  and  potassa,  and  afterwards  sufficient  muriatic  acid  to 
dissolve  the  precipitate. 
Now  add  the  cochineal  mixed  with  the  sugar,  apply  heat,  and  when 
the  syrup  is  formed  strain  and  flavor  it. 
Each  teaspoonful  contains  about  1  grain  of  phosphate  of  iron  and  2j 
grains  of  phosphate  of  lime,  with  smaller  proportions  of  the  alkaline  phos- 
phates, all  in  perfect  solution. 
Powdered  Extract  of  Hyoscyamus. — We  have  received  the  following 
letter  on  this  subject : — 
Cincinnati,  September  21st,  1857. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  : 
Sir, — The  extracts  of  hyoscyamus,  belladonna,  conium  mac,  etc.,  if 
carefully  dried  at  a  heat  not  exceeding  212  or  215  degrees  F.  and  pulver- 
ized, will,  (especially  the  first),  no  matter  how  carefully  corked  when 
used,  attract  moisture  from  the  air,  and  become  too  soft  for  powders  and 
too  tough  for  any  other  use.  How  can  this  be  prevented?  Are  those 
extracts  proper  articles  to  be  prescribed  in  and  for  powders,  which  is  often 
done  ? 
As  other  druggists  may  have  suffered  from  the  same  cause,  it  might  not 
be  unwelcome  if  you  would,  in  the  "  Journal,"  give  proper  information. 
Respectfully,  Chas.  A.  Junghanns. 
The  usual  course  pursued  is  to  triturate  the  extract  with  sugar  or  other 
inert  powder,  if  no  others  are  associated  in  sufficient  quantity  to  give  the 
requisite  dryness  to  the  mixture.  The  object  of  our  correspondent  could 
probably  be  attained  best  by  treating  the  Extract  of  Hyoscyamus  with  alco- 
hol till  exhausted,  and  evaporate  the  alcoholic  solution  to  dryness,  and  then 
adding  as  much  pure  cane  or  milk  sugar  as  will  make  up  the  original  weight 
of  the  extract  in  its  normal  condition,  and  triturate  to  a  uniform  powder, 
