124 
Aromatic  Sulphuric  Acid,  etc. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm.. 
t  March  1,1871. 
cult  to  prepare,)  imparts  a  degree  of  "grittiness"  which  is  disagree- 
able to  the  patient,  giving  the  impression  that  "dirt"  is  present; 
secondly,  the  consistence  of  the  confection  when  evaporated  to  the 
specified  weight,  varies  as  prepared  from  different  specimens  of  drugs, 
and  is  sometimes  too  thin,  when  the  mass  is  apt  to  go  into  fermenta- 
tion. Fortunately,  these  defects  may  be  easily  remedied.  In  our 
opinion,  the  purging  cassia,  considering  that  it  is  so  difficult  to  obtain, 
might  well  be  omitted  and  substituted  by  an  additional  quantity  of 
senna,  particularly  as  there  can  be  no  advantage  in  multiplying  the 
number  of  substances  having  similar  therapeutical  properties,  in  thi& 
or  other  preparations.  We  have  used  the  modified  formula  given 
below,  (the  coriander  also  being  omitted  and  substituted  by  ginger,) 
which  is  free  from  the  obiections  we  have  mentioned.  It  is  much 
more  agreeable  to  take  than  the  ofiicinal  confection,  and  is  equally 
efficient : 
Take  of  Tamarinds,    ....    20  parts. 
Figs,  bruised,  ...      20  " 
Prunes,  sliced,    ...    15  " 
Fluid  Extract  of  Senna,  10  " 
"        "  Ginger,    1  " 
Sugar,   30  " 
Water,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Digest  in  a  close  vessel,  by  means  of  a  water  bath,  the  tamarinds, 
figs,  and  prunes  in  10  parts  of  water,  for  three  hours  ;  separate  the 
coarser  portions  with  the  hands,  and  press  the  pulpy  mass  by  rubbing, 
first  through  a  coarse  sieve,  and  then  through  a  very  fine  one.  Mix 
the  residue  with  4  parts  of  water,  and,  having  digested  the  mixture 
for  a  short  time,  treat  it  as  before,  and  add  the  product  to  the  pulpy 
liquid  first  obtained,  eyaporate  to  a  syrupy  consistence  over  a  water 
bath,  add  the  sugar,  and  continue  the  heat  for  twenty  minutes,  or 
until  the  sugar  is  dissolved ;  then  remove  from  the  bath,  add  the  fluid 
extracts  of  senna  and  ginger,  and  mix  thoroughly. —  The  Pharmacist, 
Chicago,  Jan.  1871. 
Note. — "We  feel  inclined  to  enter  a  gentle  protest  against  alterations  in  the 
characters  of  time-honored  preparations,  that  change  their  appearance  or  con- 
sistence, which  are  well  known  to  the  medical  profession  and  the  people.  The 
peculiar  color  and  odor  resulting  from  the  action  of  sulphuric  acid  on  cinna- 
mon is  well  marked  in  elixir  of  vitriol.  The  deposit  by  age,  though  objection- 
able, is  by  no  means  peculiar  to  this  preparation,  and  is  a  less  evil  than  the 
proposed  improvement. 
