AmocT'i87h9?rm'}         Althaa  as  a  Pill  Excipient.  483 
In  experimenting  with  the  althaea,  it  was  used,  however,  only  in  the 
form  of  a  fine  powder.  With  some  few  substances,  by  using  simply 
the  powder  with  a  little  water  or  simple  syrup,  a  pilular  mass  was  readily 
obtained  ;  but  with  most  substances  the  amount  of  powder  required 
was  such  as  to  render  the  pills  too  large.  To  remedy  this,  combina- 
tion with  other  substances  was  resorted  to.  Tragacanth,  acacia, 
syrup,  solution  and  syrup  of  acacia,  glycerin,  etc.,  were  tried,  using 
them  in  different  proportions  and  with  various  results.  The  best  com- 
bination was  produced  by  mixing  six  parts  of  althaea  with  one  part 
of  powdered  tragacanth,  and  simple  syrup  sufficient  to  give  the 
required  consistence.  By  using  a  smaller  proportion  of  tragacanth 
the  adhesiveness  was  decreased  ;  while  on  the  addition  of  a  larger 
proportion  it  was  not  materially  changed.  The  use  of  either  solu- 
tion or  syrup  of  acacia  instead  of  simple  syrup  did  not  improve 
the  mixture ;  while  with  glycerin  the  adhesiveness  was  much 
lessened.  But  by  mixing  about  three  parts  of  tragacanth  with  six  of 
althaea,  and  then  with  glycerin,  a  mixture  was  obtained  nearly  as  good 
as  the  first.  In  this  the  adhesiveness,  without  doubt,  was  due  more  to 
the  tragacanth  than  to  the  althaea.  Acacia  used  instead  of  tragacanth, 
either  in  the  same  or  in  larger  proportions,  was  found  far  inferior  to  the 
latter.  In  short,  in  no  way  could  I  improve  on  the  combination  first 
mentioned.  Giving  that  in  definite  quantities,  we  have  the  following 
formula  : 
R     Powd.  Althaea,       .  .  .  .  £i 
"      Tragacanth,         ....         grs.  x 
Simple  syrup,  .  .  .  .  f  ^ii 
Mix  well. 
This  is  easily  and  quickly  prepared,  is  ropy,  plastic,  and  of  such 
adhesiveness  that  with  heavy,  inert  substances,  such  as  reduced  and 
dried  sulphate  of  iron,  a  small  quantity  will  give  a  mass  capable  of 
being  easily  and  thinly  rolled  out. 
With  quinia  and  other  cinchona  alkaloids  it  answers  well,  forming 
with  them,  either  with  or  without  the  use  of  acid,  masses  of  good  con- 
sistence and  plasticity  ;  and,  as  but  a  small  amount  of  excipient  is 
required,  the  white  color  of  the  alkaloids,  which  for  elegance  the  pills 
ought  also  to  have,  is  not  perceptibly  changed.  In  speaking  of  the 
color,  I  may  here  state  that  in  mixing  the  ingredients  of  the  excipients 
it  becomes  of  a  pale  somewhat  dirty  yellow  color.  In  comparing  it 
with  several  excipients  that  have  met  with  considerable  favor,  it  was 
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