Amj&uf'imirm"}  Syrupus  Scilke  Compositus.  591 
SYRUPUS  SCILLJE  COMPOSITUS. 
By  Geo.  H.  Ochse,  Ph.  G. 
This  syrup  is  one  which  frequently  causes  the  pharmacist  consid- 
erable trouble.  The  formula  of  the  present  pharmacopoeia  is  a  good 
one;  but  the  process  consumes  considerable  time  and  requires  care- 
ful manipulation  if  a  clear  syrup  is  to  be  obtained.  The  writer  has 
been  in  the  habit  of  employing  the  formula  of  Mr.  C.  A.  Wercks- 
hagen  with  uniformly  good  results.  Coxe's  hive  syrup  prepared 
according  to  this  process  is  always  clear  and  effective,  and  as  all  the 
materials  are  already  prepared  it  does  not  consume  much  time  to 
make  the  syrup.  The  writer  has  never  noticed  any  fermentation, 
and  if  the  fluid  extract  of  senega  is  exactly  neutralized  with  ammo- 
nia no  gelatinization  can  occur.  The  following  is  Mr.  Werckshagen's 
formula : 
R  Aceti  scillse  Oi. 
Antimonii  et  potassii  tartrat.  gr.  xxiv. 
Extracti  senegse  fluidi,  f  %  ii. 
Syrupi  simplicis  q.s.  ad  f  ^  xxiv. 
Evaporate  the  vinegar  of  squill  to  the  consistency  of  a  soft  ex- 
tract to  remove  the  acetic  acid ;  then  add  18  fluidounces  of  simple 
syrup  and  apply  heat ;  when  clear  add  the  tartar  emetic  and  stir 
until  dissolved  ;  then  take  off  the  fire  and  add  sufficient  syrup  to  make 
the  whole  measure  22  fluidounces  ;  lastly,  when  cold  add  the  fluid 
extract  of  senega. 
CHEMICAL  NOTES. 
^Brief  Abstracts  from  Theses.) 
Hydrargyrum  cum  Greta. — A  sample  of  this  preparation  made  ac- 
cording to  the  pharmacopceial  formula  of  1870  and  over  two  and  a 
half  years  old,  was  examined  by  Win.  S.  Young,  Ph.  G.  It  lost- 
over  sulphuric  acid  0.25  per  cent,  of  moisture;  water  dissolved  0.75  per 
cent,  containing  a  trace  of  mercuric  salt ;  dilute  acetic  acid  dissolved  63 
per  cent,  including  mercurous  and  a  trace  of  mercuric  oxide ;  dilute 
hydrochloric  acid  now  removed  merely  a  trace  of  mercuric  oxide; 
the  residuary  metallic  mercury  weighed  34.5  per  cent. 
