336 
CALX  SACCHARATUM,  SYRUPUS  CALCIS. 
occupied  me  ever  since,  though  it  gave  you  little  trouble  to  write. 
On  the  authority  of  the  books,  generally,  I  did  not  know  whether 
you  or  they  were  wrong,  and  to  determine  this  had  to  go  over 
the  subject  practically.  I  will  not  trouble  you  nor  take  up  my 
time  with  any  detail,  but  give  you  the  results  to  use  as  you  see 
proper.  Sucrate  of  lime  is  a'  very  definite  thing  chemically, 
and  is  soluble  to  any  extent  in  solutions  of  sugar.  To  make  it, 
it  is  only  necessary  to  have  lime,  either  caustic  or  hydrated,  no 
matter  which,  associated  with  about  three  times  its  weight  of 
sugar ;  but  to  render  it  soluble  an  additional  proportion  of 
sugar  is  necessary.  The  best  proportion,  practically  arrived  at, 
was  one  part  caustic  lime,  (or  two  parts  hydrate  or  slaked  lime), 
with  eight  parts  of  dry  white  sugar,  rubbed  together  and  poured 
into  ten  parts  boiling  water,  and  boiled  a  few  minutes ;  then  di- 
luted with  forty  or  fifty  parts  of  cold  water  and  filtered  through 
white  paper,  and  the  filtrate  evaporated  until  the  residue  is  quite 
brittle  when  cold.  This  is  then  rubbed  to  powder,  and  best  given 
in  pill.  The  powder  is,  however,  perfectly  soluble  in  water,  and 
if  perfectly  dried  will  contain  between  8  and  10  per  cent,  of  its 
weight  of  caustic  lime.  The  powder  may  be  dissolved  in  milk 
or  any  watery  vehicle.  A  very  good  formula  is  to  take  of  good 
clean  well  burned  lime  400  grains,  dry  granulated  white  sugar  3200 
grains.  Triturate  well  together  in  a  mortar,  and  then  add  the 
powder  to  viii.  of  boiling  water  contained  in  a  proper  vessel 
(well  tinned  iron  or  bright  copper  answers),  and  boil  the  mixture 
with  constant  stirring  for  five  minutes.  Then  dilute  to  two  parts 
with  cold  water,  and  filter  through  white  paper..  Finally  evapo- 
rate to  whatever  consistence  may  be  desired.  If  the  evaporation  be 
carried  on  until  the  liquid  measures  a  pint,  each  fluid-ounce  will 
contain  about  24  grains  of  caustic  lime,  and  this  is  about  as  dense 
a  syrup  as  can  be  conveniently  dispensed.  If  carried  to  f  |  xii. 
each  fluid-ounce  will  contain  about  32  grains  of  lime  or  4  grains 
to  the  fluidrachm.  But  this  syrup  is  too  thick  for  convenient 
management  in  dispensing.  If  the  evaporation  be  continued  to 
dryness,  great  care  must  be  taken  to  avoid  discoloration  and 
scorching,  as  the  fluid  thickens  and  tends  to  bake  on  the  bottom  of 
the  vessel.  As  it  thickens  it  must  be  stirred  continuously  and 
kept  from  adhering  to  the  vessel  until  all  becomes  translucent, 
