a\Fimm  }   Minutes  of  Pharmaceutical  Meetings.  83 
Am.  Jour.  Phaem 
Feb 
Edwin  McC.  Boring  presented  samples  of  Castile  soap,  and  said  that  he  had 
successfully  cut  very  hard  soap  by  previously  heating  the  bars  in  an  ordinary 
oven  to  between  150  and  200°  F.,  care  being  taken  not  to  leave  them  in  long 
enough  to  make  them  too  soft. 
Prof.  Maisch  called  the  attention  of  the  meeting  to  the  circular  issued  by 
the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  containing  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Elixirs,  John  F.  Hancock,  Chairman ;  and  he  urged  the  adoption  of  the 
formulas  in  order  to  secure  uniformity.  An  extract  of  the  report,  giving  the 
formulas,  will  be  found  below: 
Compound[Powder  of  Cochineal. 
Take  of  Cochineal  in  Powder,      ....  120  grains. 
Alum,  in  powder,      ....  120  grains. 
Carbonate  of  Potassium,  .  .  .  120  grains. 
ftitartrate  of  Potassium,      .  .  .  240  grains. 
Mix.    Keep  in  well-stoppered  vial. 
Compound  Tincture  of  Cochineal. 
Take  of  Compound  Powder  of  Cochineal,     .  .  120  grains. 
Diluted  Alcohol,  .  .         .  .  2  fl.  ounces. 
Slightly  warm  the  diluted  alcohol  and  mix  with  the  powder,  macerate  in  a  stop- 
pered vial  for  twelve  hours,  and  filter  for  use.  This  is  permanent,  and  imparts 
a  beautiful  red  color  to  elixirs  and  solutions  which  have  no  acid  properties. 
Spirit  of  Orange. 
Take  of  Oil  of  Sweet  Orange,  .         .         .1  fluid  ounce. 
Stronger  Alcohol,  .  .  •  16  fluid  ounces. 
Mix.  This  is  made  in  proportions  to  conform  with  the  spirits  of  the  U.  S.  P., 
and  is  a  pleasant  and  convenient  form  of  orange  flavor. 
Simple  Elixir. 
Take  of  Spirit  of  Orange,  .         .  .         £  fluid  ounce. 
Stronger  Alcohol,     .  .  .  .4  fluid  ounces. 
Cinnamon  Water,  ...  6  fluid  ounces. 
Syrup,  .  .  .  .  .6  fluid  ounces. 
Mix. 
This  is  a  turbid  mixture.  For  many  purposes  it  is  not  necessary  to  filter  be- 
fore using,  but  generally  it  should  be  clear,  particularly  when  used  'for  physi- 
cian's prescriptions,  and  in  making  some  elixirs.  Filtering  paper  pulp,  made 
by  beating  scraps  of  chemically  pure  filtering  paper  in  a  mortar,  in  the  propor- 
tion of  sixty  grains  of  paper  to  half  fluid  ounce  of  water,  added  to  sixteen  fluid 
ounces  of  the  elixir,  agitated  briskly  for  a  few  moments,  and  filtered,  renders 
the  elixir  perfectly  limpid.  The  paper  is  free  from  the  chemical  objections 
urged  against  carbonate  of  magnesium,  chalk,  etc.,  which  are  frequently  used 
as  clarifying  agents. 
The  very  pleasant  taste  and  odor  of  this  elixir,  its  freedom  from  color  and 
chemical  impurities,  commends  it  for  general  use  as  a  medicating  vehicle. 
Red  Elixir. 
Take  of  Comp.  Tincture  of  Cochineal,  .         •  £  fluid  ounce. 
Simple  Elixir,         .         .         .         .16  fluid  ounces. 
Mix. 
This  is  sometimes  preferred  as  a  simple  elixir  because  of  its  beautiful  color. 
Elixir  of  Calisaya  Bark. 
Take  of  Tinct.  Cinchona,  U.  S.  P.,  1870,  .  22  fluidrachms. 
Simple  Elixir,         .  sufficient  to  make  16  fluid  ounces. 
Mix  and  filter.  This  contains  the  virtues  of  two  grains  of  Calisaya  bark  in 
one  fluidrachm. 
