Am'j^e'w9*Tm'} -Formulas  for  Pharmaceutical  Preparations.  275 
FORMULAS    FOR    SEVERAL  PHARMACEUTICAL 
PREPARATIONS. 
By  George  M.  Beringer,  Ph.G. 
Read  before  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting, 
May  19. 
ESSENCE  OF  PEPSIN. 
A  product  very  similar  in  appearance  and  chemical  composition 
to  the  various  proprietary  preparations  sold  under  this  title  can 
be  made  by  the  following  process : 
Take  of 
Fresh  calves  rennet,  4  troy  ounces 
Glycerin,  .........   4  fluid  ounces 
Alcohol,    .  .  .  .  .  2  " 
Tincture  of  fresh  orange  peel,  2    "  drachms 
Water,  .  .  .  ,  14    "  ounces 
Purified  talc,   1  troy  ounce 
Mix  the  rennet  and  glycerin,  then  add  the  alcohol,  water  and 
tincture  of  orange,  and  macerate  for  four  or  five  days,  with  repeated 
agitation.  Add  the  talc,  agitate  and  allow  to  stand  for  an  hour,  or 
until  the  talc  has  been  largely  deposited.  Now  decant  on  a  muslin 
or  flannel  filter,  the  supernatant  liquid  first,  and  finally  the  dregs. 
Then  filter  again  through  paper. 
One  fluid  drachm  of  the  essence  with  four  fluid  ounces  of  water 
acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid  will  easily  digest  300  grs.  of  egg 
albumen  in  four  hours  at  IQ40  F.,  and  one  fluid  drachm  will  curd 
one  quart  of  milk  at  ioo°  F.  in  4  minutes. 
ELIXIR    OF  PEPSIN  AND  BISMUTH. 
The  National  Formulary  furnishes  a  formula  for  this  preparation, 
in  which  128  grains  of  pepsin  are  directed  to  be  dissolved  in  4  fluid 
ounces  of  water  without  the  addition  of  any  acid  ;  although,  in 
Elixir  of  Pepsin,  hydrochloric  acid  is  directed  to  be  used  to  dissolve 
the  pepsin. 
J.  U.  Lloyd,  in  "  Elixirs,"  page  141,  recommends  a  formula  for  elixir 
of  pepsin,  in  which  2  fluid  drachms  of  acetic  acid  and  256  grs.  of 
saccharated  pepsin  are  used  to  the  pint.  Regarding  the  use  of 
acetic  acid,  he  says,  that  by  substituting  acetic  acid  for  the 
acid  usually  employed  (hydrochloric)  we  obtain  a  simple 
elixir  of  pepsin,  more  compatible  with  certain  iron  salts,  and  with 
