280 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
First bruise the digitalis, and then add a sufficiency of water 
to render this substance thoroughly moist; afterwards place it 
in a Boullay's filtering instrument, and operate by displace- 
ment until you have exhausted it of all its soluble active 
principles; this may be known by the last portions of water 
being nearly devoid of taste and color; then evaporate in a 
water bath to ten ounces, and add the sugar to form a syrup 
marking 31° Baume. 
This lately introduced syrup is used to a considerable ex- 
tent. In the way of recommendation, it will be perceived to 
possess some advantages over the ordinary forms of adminis- 
tering digitalis, viz. , tincture and infusion. The first is so objec- 
tionable on account of the stimulating qualities of the alcoholic 
menstruum, as to confine its use to a very limited degree. 
The second is in almost daily use, either for appeasing the 
motions of the heart, or in dropsical or asthmatic affections. 
These are diseases of a chronic character, and oblige the 
continuance of the medicine, by the patient, for an indefinite 
period. If travelling, he is not able to procure digitalis every 
where of good quality ; and even in this case the want of 
convenience in preparing it, will often preclude its use. A 
quantity of the infusion prepared at once, besides being bulky, 
will spoil in the keeping. 
This concentrated syrup, made with four ounces of sub- 
stance, embodies one ounce of soluble extract, and, besides 
being more than twice the strength of the tincture, is free 
from the resin and coloring matter of this last. Being made 
with cold water, it contains no fecula. One teaspoon- 
ful is equivalent to fifteen grains of digitalis, or a little 
more than two ounces of the infusion. Four teaspoonsful to 
eight and a half ounces of water, form a preparation of the 
strength of Withering's Infusion. Sugar, while it tends to 
its preservation, also disguises the nauseous taste. 
Hydriodate of Iron. 
In one of the previous numbers of this Journal, I have 
detailed some particulars concerning the preparation of hy- 
priodate of iron. At the time they were written this valuable 
