PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTES.  307 
Add  the  acid  gradually  to  the  carbonate  of  potas3a  until 
effervescence  ceases,  and  the  liquid  is  neutral  to  test  paper;  add 
water  enough  to  make  a  pint  of  solution,  and  filter.  The 
commercial  acid  is  generally  a  little  stronger  than  the  officinal,* 
ranging  up  to  1-044,  consequently  less  than  eleven  ounces 
and  a  half  will  be  required. 
This  solution  keeps  a  long  time  unchanged,  and  every  fluid 
drachm  containing  half  a  drachm  of  acetate  potassa,  is  very 
readily  weighed  by  measure,  and  answers  for  most  prescriptions 
calling  for  the  salt  in  solution.  Every  apothecary  can  make  it 
himself  with  but  little  trouble,  and  at  one-third  the  cost  of  the 
dry  article  ;  if  the  latter  is  needed,  a  small  portion  may  be 
quickly  evaporated  in  a  porcelain  capsule  on  a  water-bath. 
Compound  Infusion  of  Gentian. — This  infusion  is  fre- 
quently ordered  by  physicians  in  Philadelphia,  and  when  made 
officinally,  spoils  too  soon  to  keep  on  hand  in  quantity,  while  to 
prepare  it  whenever  prescribed,  often  takes  longer  than  is 
convenient,  even  if  the  immediate  percolation  process  of 
Grahame  is  employed.  A  concentrated  tincture,  which  will 
remain  unchanged,  containing  such  a  proportion  of  alcohol,  that 
when  diluted  with  the  requisite  quantity,  of  water,  the  mixture 
will  agree  with  the  formula  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  obviates  the 
difficulty  completely.  Such  a  one  is  made  as  follows  : 
Take  of  Gentian,  in  powder,  two  ounces, 
Orange  peel,  " 
Coriander,       "      each  half  an  ounce. 
Diluted  alcohol,  sufficient. 
Make  a  pint  of  tincture  by  percolation.  For  compound  in- 
fusion of  gentian,  add  four  fluid  ounces  of  this  tincture  to  twelve 
fluid  ounces  of  water.  Thus  made,  it  contains  the  proper  pro- 
portion of  alcohol,  and  is  of  officinal  strength  in  gentian,  orange 
peel  and  coriander,  and  may  possibly  be  more  effectual  on 
account  of  the  stronger  menstruum  used,  while  the  dispenser 
does  not  detain  the  patient,  nor  have  to  send  the  medicine  by 
his  own  messenger. 
*The  true  sp.  gi\  of  the  U.  S.  P.  Acetic  Acid,  according  to  Mr.  Maisch 
is  1-046  and  this  number  has  been  adopted  for  the  U.  S.  P.,  1860. — 
Editor. 
