AmMaTch,?8h9Lm-}  Pharmaceutical  Notes.  125 
PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTES. 
Abstracts  from  Theses. 
Collodium  stypticum. — Noticing  that  the  pharmacopceial  prepara- 
tion deposits  a  sediment  containing  tannin,  John  S.  Mack,  Ph.G.,  sug- 
gests the  following  formula,  which  will  yield  an  efficient  and  clear  pre- 
paration. For  preparing  one  fluidounce  dissolve  65  grains  of  tannin 
in  a  vial  containing  a  mixture  of  91  minims  of  alcohol  and  306  minims 
of  stronger  ether,  pass  through  a  small  filter  contained  in  a  well- 
covered  funnel,  wash  the  filter  with  a  little  of  the  same  menstruum, 
dissolve  in  the  filtrate  8*^  grains  of  guncotton,  set  aside  for  a  few 
days,  and  decant  from  any  undissolved  particles. 
Syrup  of  Eriodictyon,  if  prepared  according  to  the  "  National 
Formulary,"  causes  in  quinine  mixtures  precipitation  instead  of 
keeping  the  quinine  in  suspension.  This  is  obviated  by  dispensing 
with  the  solution  of  potassa,  and  manipulating  as  follows,  as  sug- 
gested by  Edward  P.  Sheafer,  Ph.G. :  Prepare  from  y2  ounce  of 
yerba  santa,  by  maceration  with  cold  water,  6  fluidounces  of 
infusion ;  add  to  this  a  solution  of  4  drops  each  of  the  volatile  oils 
■of  lemon,  cloves  and  sassafras  in  y2  fluidounce  of  alcohol ;  filter 
through  purified  talcum  ;  add  to  the  filtrate  1 3  troy  ounces  of  sugar  ; 
dissolve  without  heat,  and  add  through  the  filter  previously  used 
enough  water  to  make  the  product  measure  16  fluidounces. 
Tinctura  Vanillce  is  obtained  of  a  beautiful  deep  brown  color  and 
representing  the  aromatic  ^properties  of  the  drug  in  a  very  satis- 
factory degree,  by  modifying  the  menstruum  and  manipulation 
directed  by  the  Pharmacopoeia,  Chas.  P.  Hendrickson,  Ph.G.,  sug- 
gesting the  following:  Reduce  to  a  uniform  powder  10  parts  of 
vanilla,  cut  into  small  pieces,  by  beating  it  in  a  mortar,  in  small 
portions,  with  10  parts  of  rock  candy;  mix  this  uniformly  with  75 
parts  of  sand,  previously  washed  and  dried ;  pack  the  mixture 
firmly  in  a  cylindrical  glass  percolator,  and  then  obtain  in  the  usual 
manner  by  maceration  and  displacement,  100  parts  of  tincture, 
using  a  menstruum  composed  of  50  parts  alcohol,  1  5  of  glycerin, 
and  35  of  water. 
Tinctura  Gentiance  composita,  it  is  suggested  by  Francis  W. 
Cook,  Ph.G.,  should  be  prepared  with  a  stronger  alcoholic  men- 
struum, to  avoid  the  deposition  of  an  unsightly  precipitate,  which 
takes  place  in  the  pharmacopceial  tincture.    The  materials  sug- 
