^-May,^.1"113-}      Compound  Syrup  of  White  Pine.  235 
The  foregoing  process  makes  a  beautiful,  bright  and  permanent 
preparation,  that  may  be  given  in  doses  of  from  one  to  three  tea- 
spoonfuls.  . 
This  syrup  is  as  easily  prepared  as  syrup  of  wild  cherry.  It  costs 
less  than  $1  per  gallon,  while  those  brands  on  the  market  are  sold 
for  about  $3.50  per  gallon.  It  can  be  put  up  in  bottles  holding  4 
fluid  ounces,  and  syrup,  bottles,  corks  and  labels  need  not  cost  over 
60  cents  per  dozen. 
Inasmuch  as  the  compound  syrup  of  white  pine  is  used  over  such 
an  extensive  territory,  and  its  sale  in  some  parts  of  this  territory  is 
so  enormous,  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  there  should  be  a  formula  for 
its  preparation  in  the  National  Formulary.  I  believe  the  compound 
syrup  of  white  pine  is  now  used  much  more  than  a  number  of 
preparations  which  are  now  recognized  in  the  National  Formulary. 
Since  Mr.  Sherwin's  thesis  was  deposited  with  the  Faculty  of  the 
College,  we  have  received  a  copy  of  the  new  and  revised  edition  of  the 
National  Formulary,  and  find  that  compound  syrup  of  white  pine  is 
recognized  therein  under  the  title  of  Syrupus  Pini  Strobi  Composi- 
tus.  We  print  the  formula  in  full,  so  that  comparison  with  Mr. 
Sherwin's  formula  may  be  easily  made. 
White  pine  bark  (Pinus  Strobus)   75  grammes. 
Wild  cherry  bark   75  " 
Spikenard  root   10 
Balm  of  Gilead  buds   10 
Sanguinaria  root   8 
Sassafras  bark  '   7  " 
Morphine  sulphate   0*5  " 
Chloroform   6  c.c. 
Sugar   ....    750  grammes. 
Alcohol   — 
Water   — 
Syrup  (U.  S.  P.),  of  each  a  sufficient  quantity  to  make 
1,000  cubic  centimetres. 
Reduce  the  vegetable  drugs  to  a  moderately  coarse  (No.  40)  powder,  moisten 
the  powder  with  a  menstruum  composed  of  1  volume  of  alcohol  and  3  volumes 
of  water,  and  macerate  for  twelve  hours.  Then  percolate  with  the  same  men- 
struum until  500  cubic  centimetres  of  tincture  have  been  obtained,  in  which 
dissolve  the  sugar  and  the  morphine  sulphate  ;  lastly,  add  the  chloroform  and 
sufficient  syrup  to  make  1,000  cubic  centimetres,  and  strain. 
We  have  not  had  experience  with  the  Formulary  process,  which 
involves  the  use  of  alcohol  in  the  menstruum  for  the  extraction  of 
the  drugs,  but  we  know  a  highly  satisfactory  preparation  can  be 
made  by  the  use  of  water  and  glycerin. — Editor.'] 
