480  Elixirs  of  Quinine,  Simple  and  Compound.  {^^'ocT^ig^s'"''™* 
tions  are  destitute  of  the  desirable  light  green  tints,  or  speedily  lose 
them,  especially  on  exposure  to  light.  The  sulphates  are  furthermore 
marked  by  a  persistent  and  nauseous  bitterness,  not  shown  by  various- 
other  salts.  For  the  reason  of  their  remarkable  solubility,  moderate 
bitterness  and  wonderful  permanence  of  composition,  solubility  and 
tint  in  conjunction  with  ferric  citrate,  the  hypophosphites  command 
particular  notice. 
The  writer  has  long  been  in  the  habit  of  preparing  an  elixir  of  cin- 
chona containing  in  the  gallon  250  grains,  one-third  of  a  molecule,  of 
cinchonium  sulphate;  145  grains,  one-sixth  of  a  molecule,  of  quinium 
sulphate,  and  128  grains,  one  sixth  of  a  molecule,  of  cinchonidium 
sulphate ;  making  a  total  of  523  grains,  or  two-thirds  of  a  molecule. 
Of  late  the  writer  has  prepared  this  elixir,  as  well  as  its  ferrated 
compound,  by  replacing  the  sulphates  with  hypophosphites.  Since,, 
however,  these  salts  of  the  alkaloids  are  not  obtainable  in  the  market, 
and  since,  also,  their  composition  relative  to  hydrous  water  is  not 
known,  the  process  embodies  their  preparation  by  double  decompo- 
sition between  the  sulphates  and  calcium  hypophosphite  and  solutiort, 
in  alcohol. 
It  was  already  found  that  the  mixed  sulphates  of  the  alkaloids 
became  mutually  so  extremely  soluble  that  8  fluidounces  of  diluted 
alcohol  sufficed  for  the  ready  and  complete  solution  of  the  523  grains. 
With  the  mixed  hypophosphites  this  solubility  is  naturally  greater.. 
The  product  obtained  from  the  523  grains  of  sulphates  and  114  grains,, 
two-thirds  of  a  molecule,  of  calcium  hypophosphite  is  completely  dis- 
solved bv  2  fluidounces  of  warm  water  and  little  more  than  this  vol- 
ume of  diluted  alcohol  in  the  cold.  In  strong  alcohol  the  mixture  is 
apparently  soluble  in  all  proportions. 
From  these  results  the  following  formula  for  elixir  of  cinchona  or 
otherwise  compound  elixir  of  quinine  is  derived  : 
Cinchonium  sulphate   250  grains. 
Quinium  "    145  " 
Cinchonidium    "    128  " 
Calcium  hypophosphite   114  " 
"      carbonate,  precipitated   1  troyounce. 
Oil  of  anise   8  minims. 
"    caraway   16  " 
"    Ceylon  cinnamon   16  " 
Sugar,  granulated   48  troyounces^ 
Alcohol  
Water  of  each  sufficient  to  make      1  gallon. 
