332 
Some  Pharmacopoeial  Syrups. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1886. 
syrup  is  transparent,  of  a  brown  color,  and  quite  efficacious.  Some 
commercial  fluid  extracts  of  ipecac  required  a  larger  quantity  of 
ammonia  to  furnish  a  transparent  syrup. 
Syrupus  Lactucarii. — The  present  process  is  complicated  and 
tedious,  and  requires  close  attention  to  the  details.  Wm.  A.  MeBath, 
Ph.G.,  prefers  the  process  recommended  by  J.  L.  Lemberger  (see 
Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1878,  p.  599).  Benzin.or  ether  dissolves  from 
coarsely  powdered  lactucarium  a  little  less  than  50  per  cent,  of  inert 
matter,  which  is  almost  tasteless,  odorless  and  colorless,  and  may  be 
taken  in  considerable  quantity  without  producing  any  appreciable 
effect  on  the  system ;  but,  the  two  extracts  differ  somewhat  in  char- 
acter. The  ether  extract  is  readily  broken  up  in  small  pieces,  and 
does  not  stick  together  unless  heated,  while  the  benzin  extract  is  of  a 
soft,  waxy  consistence,  and  adheres  together  in  a  mass.  The  lactu- 
carium exhausted  by  either  benzin  or  ether  is  treated  with  diluted 
alcohol,  the  tincture  evaporated  and,  with  the  addition  of  sugar,  con- 
verted into  syrup. 
Syrupus  Rhei. — Arthur  Berrett,  Ph.G.,  suggests  the  preparation  of 
this  syrup  from  the  fluid  extract,  and  the  substitution  of  oil  of  Ceylon 
cinnamon  for  cinnamon  bark;  the  fluid  extract,  mixed  with  the  oil, 
dissolves  readily  in  water  containing  the  potassium  carbonate  in 
solution,  and,  with  sugar,  is  converted  into  a  pleasant  and  efficient 
syrup. 
Syrupus  Rhei  aromaticus. — A  modification  of  the  pharmacopoeial 
formula  is  suggested  by  Edward  C.  Lafean,  Ph.G.,  whereby  the 
alcohol  contained  in  the  syrup  is  reduced  to  about  one-half  the  quan- 
tity now  directed.  The  modification  consists  in  preparing  an  alco- 
holic tincture  from  the  aromatics,  and  in  treating  the  rhubarb,  in 
powder  No.  40,  with  a  mixture  of  water  2  parts  and  glycerin  1  part, 
at  a  temperature  of  about  180°  F.  After  straining  the  infusion  and 
washing  the  dregs  with  water,  the  sugar  is  dissolved  in  the  liquid, 
the  hot  syrup  is  filtered  and,  after  cooling,  thoroughly  mixed  with 
the  tincture  of  aromatics.  Thus  prepared  the  syrup  is  transparent, 
does  not  precipitate  and  keeps  well. 
Syrupus  Sarsaparillce  compositus. — With  the  view  of  simplifying 
the  pharmacopoeial  process,  and  of  avoiding  evaporation  and  loss  of 
alcohol,  A.  Berrett,  Ph.G.,  proposes  to  use  the  oils  of  sassafras,  gaul- 
theria  and  anise  in  proper  quantities  in  the  place  of  the  drugs.  The 
mixed  oils  are  first  incorporated  with  the  guaiacum  wood,  this  mix- 
