Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1893. 
Eastoris  Syrup. 
539 
Taking  into  account  the  indefiniteness  of  the  original  recipe  and 
the  susceptibility  of  the  ingredients  to  undergo  physical  and  chemi- 
cal changes,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  the  pharmaceutical  mind 
has  been  greatly  exercised  over  this  compound,  with  the  consequent 
result  that  numerous  suggestions  for  its  improvement  have  been 
made. 
A  careful  review  of  the  whole  subject  has  led  me  to  the  following 
conclusions  : 
(1)  That  the  ferrous  phosphate  is  best  prepared  by  the  direct 
action  of  phosphoric  acid  upon  metallic  iron. 
(2)  That  the  employment  of  the  official  syrupus  ferri  phosphatis 
in  the  process  for  making  this  syrup  should  be  discontinued. 
(3)  That  the  quantity  of  sugar  should  be  reduced  by  about  10  per 
cent.,  as  suggested  by  Martindale  and  Clague. 
The  subjoined  formula  is  drawn  up  in  accordance  with  the  above 
conclusions,  and  is  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  this  Conference, 
and  especially  of  the  members  of  the  Formulary  Committee,  in  the 
hope  that  it  may  be  found  more  satisfactory  than  existing  formulae : 
Take  of — 
Iron  wire,  free  from  oxide,   75  grains. 
Concentrated  phosphoric  acid,  sp.  gr.  15,    n  fi.  drachms. 
Strychnine  in  powder,   5  grains. 
Phosphate  of  quinine,   120  grains. 
Simple  syrup,   13  fi.  ounces. 
Distilled  water,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Place  the  iron  wire  and  the  phosphoric  acid  previously  diluted 
with  an  equal  volume  of  distilled  water,  in  a  small  flask,  plug  the 
neck  with  cotton-wool,  and  heat  gently  until  the  reaction  is  com- 
plete ;  then  add  the  strychnine  and  the  phosphate  of  quinine,  and 
shake  till  dissolved  ;  filter  the  solution  into  the  cold  syrup,  wash  the 
fiUer  and  add  as  much  more  distilled  water  as  may  be  required  to 
make  the  volume  of  syrup  up  to  one  pint. 
The  above  preparation  will  contain  1  grain  phosphate  of  iron,  ^ 
grain  phosphate  of  quinine,  fa  grain  strychnine  in  each  fluid 
drachm. 
