SYRUPUS  STILLINGLE  compositus. 
207 
Bruise  and  grind  the  ingredients  to  get  the  coarse  powder 
through  a  sieve  of  18  meshes ;  mix  3  pints  of  alcohol  with  3 
pints  of  water,  and  dampen  the  powder  with  li  pints  of  this 
mixture ;  put  into  a  conical  percolator  and  set  aside  24  hours  to 
macerate.  Displace  after  expiration  of  that  time  with  remain- 
ing portion  of  said  menstruum  ;  when  it  has  disappeared  from 
the  surface  of  the  mass  pour  on  another  mixture  of  1  pint  of 
alcohol  and  2  pints  of  water  and  displace  again.  The  2  pints 
of  water  which  I  use  as  a  third  menstruum  is  to  displace  a  por- 
tion of  the  remaining  diluted  alcohol  in  the  mass,  after  which 
time  all  the  active  matter  is  taken  up.  Evaporate  the  saturated 
tincture  on  a  water  bath  and  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding 
112°  F.  to  4  pints.  Filter  while  hot,  and  if  it  measures  less 
than  4  pints,  add  enough  distilled  water.  Finally  dissolve  in 
the  filtered  liquid  7  lbs.  ayoirdupois  white  and  best  sugar;  bring 
to  syrup  by  boiling,  skim  off  the  coagulated  substances  and 
strain.* 
This  syrup  is  based  on  different  principles  from  that  prepared 
according  to  King's  Dispensatory,  is  permanent,  answering  for 
all  seasons  of  the  year,  less  expensive  to  the  manufacturer  and 
buyer,  of  a  clear  and  rich  color,  peculiar  but  pleasant  taste  and 
odor,  reminding  very  distinctly  of  the  substances  employed  be- 
fore their  extraction,  and  speaks  for  itself  that  the  virtues  are 
taken  from  and  retained  in  by  the  above  manipulation.  The 
syrup  is  recommended  and  used  extensively  as  an  effective  alter- 
ative in  syphilitic,  scrofulous  and  glandular  diseases.  The  dose 
is  a  teaspoonful,  to  be  taken  three  or  four  times  a  day  ;  it  is 
*  The  author,  in  oar  opinion,  has  hardly  done  justice  to  the  formula  m 
King's  Dispensatory.  That  formula  is  based  on  the  fact  that  at  least  two 
of  the  ingredients  owe  their  virtues  to  oleoresins.  Hence  the  mixed  powder 
is  percolated  with  a  strong  alcohol,  (76  percent.,)  till  a  pint  is  obtained, 
which  removes  the  greater  part  of  these  constituents,  and  is  reserved  to 
the  last.  The  ingredients  yet  containing  alcohol  are  afterwards  exhausfcel 
by  water,  and  a  syrup  made  from  this  solution  (after  distilling  off  any 
alcohol  it  may  retain)  with  6  pounds  of  sugar,  so  as  to  reduce  it  to  7  pints. 
To  this,  when  nearly  cold,  the  pint  of  reserved  tincture  is  added  and  mixed  to 
obtain  a  gallon  of  syrup.  The  turbid  character  of  the  syrop  thus  made  is 
owing  to  theoleoresinous  ingredients,  which  are  deemed  valuable,  and  can 
only  be  retained  by  submitting  to  this  partial  solution. —  Ed,  Amer.  Jovrn. 
Pharrn. 
