AMjui°™;f874RM'}  Mistura  Assafcetidce — Mistara  Ammoniaci.  309 
I  have  also  often  added  fluid  extract  of  nux  vomica  to  this  prepara- 
tion in  quantities  of  three  drops  to  each  fluidrachm,  and  in  this  form 
it  has  been  styled  compound  elixir  of  phosphorus. 
Charleston,  S.  0.,  June,  1874. 
MISTURA  ASSAFCETIDCE  AND  MISTURA  AMMONIACI. 
By  J.  W.  Wood. 
The  preparation  of  these  two  mixtures  in  accordance  with  our 
Pharmacopoeia  is  not  calculated  to  inspire,  in  case  of  the  former,  the 
most  agreeable  impressions  imaginable  upon  the  olfactories  of  the 
pharmacist  ;  nor  in  the  latter,  if  an  impatient  customer  is  waiting 
for  it. 
From  the  instability  of  the  aqueous  mixtures  of  these  gum  resins, 
we  are  precluded  the  possibility  of  keeping  them  always  ready  for 
dispensing. 
To  overcome  this  disadvantage  I  have  devised  the  following  con- 
venient, and,  I  presume,  altogether  unobjectionable,  mode,  which 
will  at  once  commend  itself  at  least  to  those  whose  remembrance  of 
odorous  mortar  and  wearied  elbow  does  not  contribute  to  the  charms 
of  their  profession.  The  improvement  consists  in  forming  a  solution, 
or  at  least  suspending  the  gum  resins  in  a  certain  proportion  of  pure 
glycerin,  which  mixtures  are  to  be  kept  for  adaptation  to  their  pur- 
poses, as  follows  : 
R. — Assafoetidse  electae,    .  .  .  .  ^ii. 
Glycerine  purse,   .  .  .  .  gvi. 
Cut  the  assafoetida  into  small  pieces,  and,  together  with  the  gly- 
cerin, introduce  into  a  capsule,  and  subject  to  a  moderate  heat,  con- 
stantly stirring  and  triturating  with  a  pestle.  In  a  short  time  the 
solution  will  be  effected,  and  the  result  will  be  a  liquid,  not  too  thick 
for  easy  manipulation,  each  troy  drachm  of  which  will  represent  fif- 
teen grains  of  the  gum  resin.  Transfer  to  a  wide  mouth  bottle,  and 
label  according  to  contents. 
Now,  if  we  receive  a  demand  for,  say  four  ounces  of  mistura  assa- 
foetidae,  we  need  simply  ascertain  the  weight  of  the  bottle,  and  add 
therein  exactly  four  drachms  (troy)  of  the  above  glycerole  of  assa- 
foetida, and  afterwards  water  sufficient  to  make  the  measure,  and, 
with  a  shake  or  two,  the  thing  is  done,  the  result  being  a  handsome 
