Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1899. 
Syrupus  AlthcBce. 
155 
For  practical  purposes  this  method  is  too  tedious,  and  may  be 
modified  without  resorting  to  evaporation. 
Dieterich  clarifies  the  infusion  by  means  of  paper  pulp,  dissolves 
the  sugar  in  the  liquid  by  means  of  heat,  and  removes  the  scum 
from  the  boiling  syrup. 
This  formula,  as  published  has  the  disadvantage  of  not  directing 
a  definite  weight  or  volume  of  the  finished  syrup. 
After  a  number  of  trials  the  following  formula  was  found  to  fur- 
nish a  syrup  which  will  not  ferment,  and  possesses  the  flavor  of  the 
althaea. 
Specimens,  prepared  over  a  year  ago,  and  exposed  to  all  tempera- 
ture conditions,  have  retained  their  original  appearance,  flavor  and 
consistence. 
SYRUPUS  AI/TH^^. 
Althaea,  cut  into  small  pieces    50  grammes. 
Alcohol   30  c.c. 
Sugar  750  grammes. 
Water,  a  sufficient  quantity  to  make  1,000  c.c. 
Wash  the  althaea  with  cold  water,  then  macerate  it  with  400 
-c.c.  of  water,  previously  mixed  with  the  alcohol  during  three  hours, 
stirring  frequently  and  strain  without  expression. 
Heat  the  infusion  to  boiling,  add  10  grammes  of  purified 
talcum,  and  filter  while  hot,  passing  a  sufficient  quantity  of  boiling 
water  through  the  filter  to  measure  400  c.c. 
Add  the  sugar  to  the  filtrate,  heat  to  boiling,  remove  the  scum 
and  strain.  When  cold  add  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  to  make 
the  syrup  measure  1,000  c.c. 
Keep  the  syrup  in  completely  filled  bottles,  in  a  cool  place, 
Of  the  several  methods  experimented  with,  none  furnished  as 
satisfactory  a  preparation  as  the  one  above. 
Filtration  of  the  hot  infusion  without  talcum  yields  a  cloudy  fil- 
trate, and  consequently  an  inferior  syrup,  liable  to  ferment. 
Precipitated  calcium  phosphate,  employed  in  place  of  talcum,  is 
also  unsatisfactory,  as  larger  quantities  are  required,  and  a  some- 
what cloudy  filtrate  results. 
Should  it  be  found  necessary  for  the  Pharmacopoeia  to  retain  the 
present  formula,  the  syrup,  prepared  by  the  above  process,  will  be 
found  a  decidedly  more  satisfactory  preparation  for  counter  sale. 
