398 
PHARMACY  OF  THE  CINCHONAS. 
the  former  edition  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  It  is  not  my  inten- 
tion here  to  try  to  solve  the  problem. 
My  attention  has  been  directed  to  an  article  labelled  "  Effer- 
vescent Solution  of  Cit.  Magnesia,"  extensively  manufactured 
and  sold  by  a  firm  in  this  city.  An  analysis  of  this  preparation 
shows  Epsom  salt  amongst  its  constituents,  and  upon  which  its 
efficacy  mainly  depends. 
Resulting  from  this  investigation,  I  have  constructed  a  formula 
with  such  additions  and  alterations  as  might  seem  to  make  it 
complete,  when  it  may  be  desirable  and  necessary  for  the  physi- 
cian to  prescribe  such  an  article. 
It  is  as  follows  : — 
R.  Acid.  Citric,  ft>j  (Av.) 
Magnesise  Calcin.,  3J  oz.  " 
-Sulph.,  6     "  " 
Aquss  Purse,  Cong.  j. 
The  above  ingredients  may  be  thrown  together  in  a  bottle, 
and  occasionally  shaken  until  dissolved  ;  then  filter. 
As  it  affords  a  permanent  solution,  any  quantity  desirable 
may  be  prepared  at  a  time,  or  as  called  for,  if  preferred,  by 
taking  of  the  above  solution,  to  each  bottle,  four  fluidounces ; 
lemon  syrup,  ten  drachms  ;  bicarbonate  of  potash,  one-half 
drachm  ;  fill  conveniently  full  with  water,  and  securely  cork. 
The  syrup  and  flavor,  with  the  excess  of  acid,  serves  to  cover 
very  effectually  the  disagreeable  taste  of  the  sulphate  of  magnesia. 
This  solution,  which  contains  about  half  the  quantity  of  citrate 
of  magnesia  intended  by  the  officinal  formula,  affords  an  active 
purgative  in  full  doses,  without  the  embarrassment  occasionally 
produced  upon  the  stomach  by  the  officinal  preparation,  and  to 
this  may  be  added  the  advantages  of  permanence  and  economy 
afforded  by  this  formula. 
PHARMACY  OF  THE  CINCHONAS. 
By  Edward  R.  Squibb,  M.  D.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
(Continued  from  page  303.) 
The  experiments  undertaken  to  elucidate  this  subject  have 
occupied  more  than  six  weeks  of  time,  and  involved  over  forty 
percolations  on  the  scale  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  some  fifty 
