Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
April  1, 1873.  J 
Emulsions. 
175 
tremely  convenient  method  of  preparation.  In  doing  this  I  am  led 
to  recur  to  a  formula  sent  by  me  to  this  Journal*  some  three  years 
ago,  and  published  under  the  title  of  "  Cod  Liver  Oil  Cream,"  which 
may  be  taken  as  a  type  of  this  class  of  emulsions  ;  and  the  fact  of 
the  extensive  and  successful  adoption  of  that  formula  having  come  to 
my  knowledge,  emboldens  me  to  reproduce  it  in  a  slightly  modified 
and  improved  form. 
Before  doing  so,  however,  I  may  state  it  as  a  sine  qua  non,  that 
the  tragacanth  employed  for  this  and  allied  preparations  should  be  of 
exceptionally  fine  quality.  It  should  possess  a  pretty  uniform  white- 
ness, and  freedom  from  dark  patches  and  specks,  or  if  these  latter  be 
present  they  should  be  broken  off  and  rejected.  The  selected  pieces 
are  then  cut  up  into  fragments  about  one-quarter  of  an  inch  square,  and 
immersed  in  soft  or  distilled  water  for  48  or  more  hours  in  the  pro- 
portion of  about  2J  oz.  to  the  gallon,  stirring  at  intervals  to  prevent 
agglomeration.  The  addition  afterwards  of  a  small  percentage  of 
glycerin  ensures  almost  indefinite  keeping  qualities.  To  avoid  dis- 
appointment and  secure  the  best  results  it  will  be  well  not  to  rely  on 
any  ordinary  sample  of  the  gum,  but  to  apply  to  one's  wholesale 
house  for  a  small  parcel  of  exceptional  quality.  In  this  way  we  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  sample  almost  free  from  blemish,  and  requiring 
no  material  weeding ;  while  but  for  this  precaution  one  might  improve 
but  slightly  on  the  Pharmacopoeial  mucil.  tragac,  a  dark  and  muddy 
product. 
The  formula  referred  to  above,  as  amended,  runs  thus — 
B.  01.  Jecor.  Aselli,     .       .       .       3 v. 
(Ess.  Limon. 
First  shake  together.  1    "    Amygd.  (1  in  16)  aa  .    %  xxiv. 
I  Spts.  Vini  Rect.  3  iss. 
Syrup  I  ss. 
Mucil.  Tragac.  (prepared  as  above)  ad  3  xvi. 
The  mere  act  of  shaking  together  these  ingredients  for  an  instant 
or  two  suffices  to  unite  them  into  an  elegant  semi-transparent  and 
permanent  emulsion,  with  attractive  custard-like  flavor  that  can 
scarcely  fail  to  commend  itselt  to  the  votaries  of  "  Elegant  Pharmacy." 
Other  oils,  as  castor,  almond,  turpentine,  etc.,  or  balsams  may  be 
substituted  for  the  one  above  specified.    The  proportion  there  given 
*  See  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1870,  page  247. 
