SYRUPUS  CALCIS. 
159 
ted  with  forty  or  fifty  parts  of  cold  water  and  filtered  through 
white  paper,  and  the  filtrate  evaporated  until  the  residue  is  quite 
brittle  when  cold.  This  is  then  rubbed  to  powder,  and  best 
given  in  a  pill.  The  powder  is,  however,  perfectly  soluble  in 
water,  and  if  properly  dried  will  contain  between  8  and  10  per 
cent,  of  its  weight  of  caustic  lime.  The  powder  may  be  dis- 
solved in  milk  or  any  watery  vehicle.  A  very  good  formula  is 
to  take  of  good  clean  well  burned  lime  400  grains,  dry  granu- 
lated white  sugar  2300  grains.  Triturate  well  together  in  a  mor- 
tar, and  then  add  the  powder  to  f^viii.  of  boiling  water  con- 
tained in  a  proper  vessel  (well  tinned  iron  or  bright  copper 
answers),  and  boil  the  mixture  with  constant  stirring  for  five 
minutes.  Then  dilute  to  two  parts  with  cold  water,  and  filter 
through  white  paper.  Finally  evaporate  to  whatever  consistence 
may  be  desired.  If  the  evaporation  be  carried  on  until  the 
liquid  measures  a  pint,  each  fluidounce  will  contain  about  24 
grains  of  caustic  lime,  and  this  is  about  as  dense  a  syrup  as  can 
be  conveniently  dispensed.  If  carried  to  fjxii.  each  fluidounce 
will  contain  about  32  grains  of  lime  or  4  grains  to  the  fluidrachm. 
But  this  syrup  is  too  thick  for  convenient  management  in  dis- 
pensing. If  the  evaporation  be  continued  to  dryness,  great 
care  must  be  taken  to  avoid  discoloration  and  scorching  as  the 
fluid  thickens  and  tends  to  bake  on  the  bottom  of  the  vessel.  As 
it  thickens  it  must  be  stirred  continuously  and  kept  from  adher- 
ing to  the  vessel  until  all  becomes  translucent,  tough  and  ropy. 
It  finally  becomes  so  tough  as  to  be  very  difficult  to  stir  properly, 
and  when  a  small  thread  of  it  on  cooling  becomes  very  brittle 
and  capable  of  being  rubbed  or  crushed  into  small  particles 
between  the  thumb  and  finger,  the  heating  may  be  finished. 
When  cold  and  brittle  it  should  be  rubbed  to  fine  powder,  and 
this  powder,  according  to  the  extent  to  which  the  drying  has 
been  carried,  will  contain  from  8  to  10  grains  in  the  hundred  of 
caustic  lime. 
The  process  is  simple  and  easy,  and  requires  so  little  skill  and 
dexterity  that  any  ordinary  pharmaceutist  of  the  most  limited 
acquirements  will  be  able  to  make  it  without  difficulty. — Med. 
and  Surg.  Reporter,  Phila.,  Nov.  9,  1867. 
