^™Air?i['iS"™"}       -^055  Mucilages  as  Emulsifiers,  171 
experiments  to  this  end,  the  results  of  which  he  read  at  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  ;  but  all  attempts  to 
preserve  the  mucilage  being  unsuccessful,  the  only  method  remaining 
to  present  the  Irish  moss  in  a  form  that  could  be  kept  on  hand  by  the 
pharmacist  was  by  evaporating  the  mucilage  to  dryness  and  forming 
a  gelatin ;  and  to  this  end  I  also  directed  my  efforts.  I  took  four 
ounces  of  good,  bleached  Irish  moss,  and  first  washed  it  well  in  cold 
water,  removing  admixtures  and  impurities,  then  placed  it  on  a  steam 
bath,  with  two  hundred  ounces  of  water,  and  by  the  aid  of  steam  un- 
der pressure  was  able  to  obtain  a  constant  and  safe  heat.  After  con- 
tinuing this  heat  for  a  half  liour,  with  frequent  stirring,  the  mixture 
was  transferred  to  a  strong  muslin  strainer,  which  had  previously  been 
soaked  in  warm  water,  and  although  a  slow  process,  by  taking  the 
precaution  to  use  no  pressure,  but  to  constantly  keep  a  clean  surface 
on  the  bottom  of  the  strainer  by  means  of  a  wooden  stirrer,  a  clear 
mucilaginous  liquid  was  obtained,  which,  upon  cooling,  was  found  to 
be  in  the  form  of  a  jelly. 
This  mixture  was  again  transferred  to  the  steam  bath  and  evapo- 
rated, with  constant  stirring,  to  a  semi-fluid  consistence,  when  it  was 
spread  as  evenly  as  possible  on  all  sides  of  the  kettle,  and  the  heat 
continued  until  a  perfectly  dry  gelatin  was  formed.  Upon  cooling  the 
kettle  by  passing  a  stream  of  cold  water  through  the  jacketed  portion, 
I  was  able,  by  careful  manipulation,  to  remove  the  gelatin  in  one  en- 
tire piece,  which  was  afterwards  cut  in  strips  suitable  for  use.  It  is 
thin,  yellowish  brown  in  color,  light,  and  slightly  translucent,  break- 
ing with  a  short  fracture,  but  not  enough  so  to  be  brought  to  a  pow- 
der under  the  pestle.  While  it  is  but  sparingly  soluble  in  cold  water, 
it  dissolves  completely  in  boiling  water,  and  a  mucilage  may  in  this 
way  be  obtained  resembling  in  appearance  and  viscosity  the  acacia 
preparation,  and  possessing  as  little  taste. 
Emulsions  were  first  prepared  by  agitation  as  suggested  by  Mr. 
Painter  (see  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1887,  p.  535); 
10  grains  of  Irish  moss  gelatin  were  dissolved  in  1\  ounces  of 
boiling  water,  an  operation  taking  some  ten  minutes  time.  Afler 
the  mucilage  had  become  perfectly  cold,  a  precaution  always  to 
be  observed,  it  was  transferred  to  a  four-ounce  bottle ;  and  2  ounces 
of  cod  liver  oil  were  gradually  added  in  divided  portions,  shaking 
vigorously  after  each  addition  until  a  perfect  emulsion  was  formed ; 
^  ounce  of  syrup  and  three  drops  of  oil  of  wintergreen  were  added 
