16 
ON  LIQUOR  MAGNESIJE  CITRATIS. 
half  lines  in  diameter.  The  root  bark  is  somewhat  thicker  than 
that  of  the  wood,  and  is  equally  if  not  more  bitter.  The  ligneous 
part  of  the  root  is  less  dense,  and  full  of  comparatively  large 
open  pores,  occupying  the  position  of  the  resinous  layers  in  the 
wood.    It  also  possesses  some  bitterness. 
A  decoction  of  the  root  and  wood  had  a  very  pale  straw  color, 
and  quite  a  bitter  taste.  A  hasty  application  of  tests  indicated 
the  presence  of  starch  in  small  quantity,  but  little  gum,  and  no. 
indication  of  berberina  or  other  alkaloid ;  but  the  trial  was  no't 
conducted  with  much  care,  owing  to  the  incomplete  state  of  the 
information  relative  to  the  plant.  It  is  suggested  that  our  cor- 
respondent pursue  the  inquiry  until  he  can  get  leaves  and  flowers 
of  the  plant,  and  further  information  in  regard  to  it,  and  forward 
them  to  us,  when  we  will  examine  it  more  critically. — Ed.  Amer. 
Jour.  Pharm.] 
ON  LIQUOR  MAGNESIA  CITRATIS. 
Boston,  Sept.  Uth,  1867. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  : 
Dear  Sir — Having  read  several  articles  on  citrate  of  magnesia 
in  your  Journal,  and  knowing  how  difficult  it  is  to  make  the  so- 
lution permanent,  I  will  give  you  my  formula,  which  I  have  used 
for  the  last  twelve  years  ;  and  I  would  like  to  have  you  try  it : 
R.  Magnesia  calc,  ^ij. 
Acid  cit.,  3xss. 
Aqua,  Oij.  giss. 
Dissolve  the  acid,  then  add  the  magnesia;  let  it  stand  until 
the  magnesia  is  dissolved,  then  filter  (to  each  bottle  put  in  ^iij. 
of  the  solution,  with  gij.  syr.  simplex  ;  fill  with  water)  ;  to  each 
bottle  45  grains  of  bi-carb.  potassa  ;  cork  tightly.    The  solution 
should  be  bottled  as  soon  as  it  is  made. 
Yours,  respectfully, 
W.  D.  Atkinson,  Jr. 
[In  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  writer,  we  have  pre- 
pared this  solution  and,  as  we  expected,  find  it  too  acid,  though 
perhaps  more  agreeable  to  the  taste  than  when  more  neutral. 
When  tried  it  proved  efficient.  If  lemon  syrup  flavoring  were 
added  it  wonld  be  improved. — Editor  Am.  Jour.  Pharm.] 
