226  Tincture  of  Ipecac  and  Opium.  {^"'May^fss^''"'* 
The  nitrous  and  sulphuric  acids  are  mixed  in  an  earthenware  crock 
and  allowed  to  stand  until  the  temperature  has  fallen  to  90°  F.,  when 
the  potassium  nitrate  is  added  and  thoroughly  incorporated  with  the 
acid  mixture ;  the  wood  pulp  is  then  immediately  immersed  in  the 
mixture  and  allowed  to  remain  for  12  hours.  It  is  then  removed 
from  the  acid  and  thoroughly  washed.  A  few  drops  of  ammonia  w^ater 
added  to  the  wash  water  greatly  facilitates  the  thorough  washing  and 
removal  of  the  acid. 
The  nitro-cellulose  thus  prepared  leaves  little  or  no  residue  on  burn- 
ing and  is  entirely  sohible  in  a  mixture  of  50  per  cent,  concentrated 
ether  and  50  per  cent,  alcohol.  Although  Prof.  Wahl  recommends 
5  per  cent.,  I  find  that  3  per  cent,  of  this  pyroxylin  is  sufficient  to 
make  a  very  thick  fluid,  which  on  application  leaves  a  very  tough 
film.  The  addition  of  5  drops  of  castor  oil  to  the  fluidounce  is  suffi- 
cient to  render  it  flexible.  The  advantage  which  photoxylin  possesses 
over  collodion  is  the  additional  strength  of  the  film. 
MODIFICATION  OF  THE  FORMULA  FOR  TINCTURE  OF 
IPECAC  AND  OPIUM,  U.  S.  P. 
By  Wm.  H.  Clark,  Ph.  G. 
Some  trouble  having  been  experienced  with  tincture  of  ipecac  and 
opium,  U.  S.  P.,  from  its  tendency  to  ferment,  a  suggestion  as  to  a 
formula  that  will  produce  a  stable  preparation  may  be  found  accept- 
able. 
A  sample  of  tincture  of  ipecac  and  opium  was  made  strictly  in 
accordance  with  the  instruction  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  from  ma- 
terial also  prepared  personally  according  to  the  same  authority.  The 
amount  of  alcohol  in  the  finished  tincture  was  determined,  and  found  to 
be  17.75  per  cent,  of  absolute  alcohol,  by  weight,  showing  it  to  be 
weaker  in  alcoholic  strength  than  both  its  constituent  preparations. 
If,  however,  the  U.  S.  P.  formula  be  amended  so  as  to  use  strong 
instead  of  diluted  alcohol  to  make  100  parts  of  finished  product,  the 
tincture  will  contain  over  20  per  cent,  of  absolute  alcohol  by  weight, 
and  experience  with  large  quantities,  made  by  this  method,  has  shown 
the  preparation  to  be  permanent,  and  satisfactory  in  every  respect. 
Madrid,  N.  Y.,  April  18,  1888. 
