Am.  Jour.  Pbarrti. \ 
March,  1903.  / 
Notes  on  Syrups. 
Even  if  the  insoluble  residue  is  triturated  with  hypophosphorous 
acid,  some  insoluble  material  still  remains. 
Complete  solution  will,  however,  take  place  on  prolonged  stand- 
ing. If  the  salts,  previously  well  triturated  with  the  hypophospho- 
rous acid,  are  in  contact  with  the  full  volume  of  water  directed  by 
the  Pharmacopoeia,  complete  solution  will  be  effected  on  standing 
twenty-four  hours. 
In  preparing  the  syrup  by  agitation,  it  is  frequently  observed 
that  upon  the  addition  of  the  sugar  to  the  filtered  solution  of  the 
hypophosphites,  a  crystalline  deposit  takes  place  in  the  syrup. 
This  is  not  always  the  case,  as  some  syrups  will  keep  almost 
indefinitely. 
This  phenomenon  appears  to  be  dependent  upon  the  quality  of 
the  calcium  salt. 
Some  manufacturers,  putting  up  the  salt  in  cartons,  request 
transfer  to  impervious  containers  immediately  on  receipt,  stating 
that  the  article  is  decomposed  by  exposure.  It  is  also  stated  in 
some  text-books  that  syrup  of  the  hypophosphites  is  oxidized  on 
standing.  An  examination  of  the  precipitate  in  several  specimens 
of  cloudy  syrup  showed  that  it  was  merely  redeposited  calcium 
hypophosphite. 
The  singular  feature  is,  that  syrups  prepared  from  the  calcium 
hypophosphite  of  certain  manufactures  invariably  precipitate,  while 
the  salt,  procured  from  other  sources,  furnishes  a  stable  preparation. 
The  question  arises  here,  If  saturation  of  the  aqueous  solution 
with  the  sugar  does  not  cause  precipitation  of  the  calcium  salt,  or  if 
other  causes  underly  this  change  ? 
SYRUP  OF  IPECAC. 
While  making  5,000  c.c.  of  this  syrup,  with  strict  observation  ot 
the  official  directions,  it  was  found  that  the  finished  syrup  measured 
nearly  5,200  c.c.  A  second  trial,  in  which  1,000  c.c.  were  prepared, 
confirmed  this  result,  as  the  final  volume  was  found  to  measure 
between  1,035  an^  1,040  c.c. 
The  cause  of  this  error,  which  results  in  a  slight  decrease  in  the 
strength  of  the  syrup,  is  found  in  the  pharmacopceial  directions, 
which  are  approximately  as  follows  :  Dilute  70  c.c.  of  fluid  extract 
of  ipecachuana  with  3Q0  c.c.  of  water  previously  mixed  with  10  c.c. 
of  acetic  acid,  shake,  filter  the  mixture  and  pass  enough  water 
