SYRUP  OF  LACTUCARIUM. 
113 
Prof.  Procter,  in  a  foot  note  to  Dr.  Schaeffer's  letter,  quotes 
Ginelin,  Handbook,  vol.  ix.  p.  156,  1855,  which  says — 
"  Artificial  oxalate  of  protoxide  of  iron  contains  2  eq.  of 
water  for  each  eq.  of  base  ;  whilst  the  native  oxalate  (Humboldt- 
ite)  is  only  sesqui-hydric. 
And  Mr.  Reynolds,  (American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  March, 
1867),  who  has  also  analyzed  it,  gives  as  its  formula,  FeO,  C203 
+4HO.  According  to  this  it  would  consist  of  one-third  of  its 
weight  of  water. 
This  question  of  its  composition  should  be  definitely  settled, 
as  it  is  of  importance  to  the  therapeutist  in  enabling  him  more 
accurately  to  apportion  the  dose. 
Philadelphia,  February,  1868. 
SYRUP  OF  LACTUCARIUM. 
By  James  Kenworthey. 
In  reading  over  the  proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceu- 
tical Association,  I  observed  one  of  the  queries  propounded  by 
that  body  was,  whether  the  IT.  S.  P.  formula  for  Syrup  of  Lac- 
tucarium  could  be  improved,  and  if  so,  how. 
Syrup  of  Lactucarium,  as  made  by  the  U.  S.  P.  formula,  is  a 
milky,  unsightly  preparation, with  a  rank,  goaty  odor,  making  it 
objectionable  to  delicate  or  sensitive  patients,  and  as  Pharma- 
ceutists of  to-day  have  to  compete  with  sugar  pellets  and  pow- 
ders, it  behooves  us  to  make  our  preparations  as  agreeable  in  taste 
and  appearance  as  possible. 
Below  I  give  a  formula  with  which  I  have  been  very  success- 
ful, answering  in  every  particular. 
Take  of  Lactucarium,  one  troy-ounce. 
Sugar  in  coarse  powder,  fourteen  troy-ounces. 
Orange  Plower  Water,  one  fluidounce. 
Powdered  Pumice  Stone,  two  troy-ounces. 
Purified  Animal  Charcoal,  one  troy  ounce. 
Diluted  Alcohol  and  water,  of  each  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Rub  the  Lactucarium  with  sufficient  diluted  alcohol,  gradually 
added,  to  bring  it  to  a  syrupy  consistence.    Then  introduce  it 
into  a  conical  percolator  and,  having  carefully  covered  the  sur- 
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