290        Pharmaceutical  Notes  from  Purdue  University.  {Am"jun"?iSarm" 
wine.  Jeannel  (Jour,  de  Phar.  et  de  Chim.,  Nov.,  1868)  recom- 
mends tartaric  acid  for  the  same  purpose. 
Rother  (Druggists'  Circular,  Dec,  1885)  objects  to  the  carbon  in 
iron  filings,  and  insists  upon  the  addition  of  some  sugar  to  the  mix- 
ture generating  the  iodide  to  prevent  the  formation  of  insoluble  ferric 
oxysalts.  He  also  recommends  the  addition  of  120  minims  sulphur- 
ous acid  to  22  fl.  ounces  of  filtered  syrup.  Robinson  (abstract  in 
Phar.  Pec,  Oct.,  1885)  found  sulphite  of  sodium,  phosphoric  acid, 
phosphorous  acid,  sulphurous  acid  and  hypophosphites  to  be  unsatis- 
factory, while  the  addition  of  1  per  cent,  hypophosphorous  acid  was 
sufficient  to  preserve  a  solution  that  was  eight  times  the  strength  of 
official  syrup,  freely  exposed  to  the  air  for  two  months. 
Preparation. — Dr.  Squibb  (Proceedings  A.  P.  A.  for  1873,  p. 
189)  suggests  some  modifications  of  the  pharmacopoeial  process  of 
1870.  Following  these  hints,  the  writer  heats  the  sugar  on  a  water 
bath,  and  filters  into  it  the  warm  solution  of  ferrous  iodide.  As  the 
sugar  begins  to  dissolve,  the  point  of  the  funnel  is  lowered  into  the 
syrup  formed;  the  sugar  is  completely  dissolved  when  the  filtration 
is  ended.  Boiling  water  is  added  to  make  up  the  required  amount, 
and  small  vials  are  completely  filled  with  the  hot  syrup.  The 
straining  of  the  syrup  should  be  avoided,  by  the  use  of  pure  sugar, 
-clean  lumps  of  cut  loaf  sugar  being  preferred. 
The  experiments,  described  above,  with  sulphurous  and  hypophos- 
phorous acids,  to  preserve  the  syrup,  have  given  very  satisfactory 
results ;  but  if  pure  materials  are  used,  and  the  syrup  is  bottled 
while  hot,  no  protection  is  needed  except  good  corks. 
Commercial  Samples. — Maisch  (Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  May,  1857) 
discovered  copper  in  a  sample  sent  him  for  restoration,  and  fur- 
ther observed  that  the  iodides  of  lead,  silver  and  mercury  are 
soluble  in  syrup  of  iodide  of  iron.  Shenstone  (Pharm.  Jour.  Titans., 
April  3,  1875)  traced  the  occurrence  of  lead  to  an  enameled  vessel 
used  in  preparation.  Tschirner  (Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  June,  1875) 
reports  upon  the  examination  of  samples  purchased  in  San  Francisco, 
varying  in  strength  from  10  to  46  grains  of  iodine  to  the  fluid  ounce, 
The  writer  has  tested  thirteen  samples  as  directed  by  the  U.  S.  P., 
making  duplicate  volumetric  determinations  of  strength.  Nos.  1-6 
were  said  to  be  from  reputable  manufacturers;  Nos.  7-12  were  made 
in  Lafayette;  and  jSo.  13  was  made  by  the  writer  in  the  Purdue  labor- 
atory. 
