Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
_   July,  1913. 
Ferri,  Quinines  et  Strych.  Phos. 
303 
and,  moreover,  commits  a  manipulative  error  in  directing  that  the 
Sodium  Hydroxide  solution  be  poured  into  the  solution  Magnesium 
Sulphate  so  that  at  no  time  is  an  excess  of  alkali  present.  The 
use  of  hot  solutions  instead  of  cold  should  also  be  directed. 
To  correct  these  defects,  the  following  improved  formula  is 
presented : 
Water,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Dissolve  the  Sodium  Hydroxide  in  1000  cc.  of  Water  and  the 
Magnesium  Sulphate  in  another  portion  of  1000  cc.  of  Water  and 
filter  the  solutions.  Heat  the  solutions  to  boiling  and  add  the 
Magnesium  Sulphate  to  the  solution  of  Sodium  Hydroxide 
with  constant  stirring.  Boil  the  mixture  for  fifteen  min- 
utes, then  remove  from  the  fire  and  wash  several  times  by 
decantation  and  then  on  a  close  muslin  strainer  until  the  washings 
are  free  from  saline  taste  and  give  not  more  than  a  slight  turbidity 
with  Barium  Chloride  T.S.  Allow  the  magma  to  drain,  then  trans- 
fer to  a  suitable  vessel  and  add  sufficient  water  to  make  1000  cc.  and 
mix  thoroughly. 
In  order  to  obtain  a  nice  white  and  smooth  preparation,  one 
must  be  careful  of  the  character  of  the  water  used.  If  distilled 
water  is  produced  in  abundance  and  at  a  minimum  cost  it  can  be 
used  to  advantage.  The  cost  of  distilled  water  to  the  average 
pharmacist,  however,  would  preclude  its  use  for  the  washing  of 
this  preparation.  Satisfactory  water  can  be  cheaply  and  readily 
obtained  by  adding  5  Gm.  of  powdered  Magnesium  Carbonate  to 
each  litre,  boiling  and  then  filtering. 
The  formula  for  the  Elixir  of  the  Phosphates  of  Iron,  Quinine 
and  Strychnine,  U.  S.  P.  VIII,  has  been  criticized  largely  because 
of  the  uncertainty  of  the  color  in  different  lots  and  the  rapid 
Magma  Magnesia. 
Magnesium  Sulphate 
Sodium  Hydroxide 
250  Gm. 
100  Gm. 
ELIXIR  FERRI,  QUININE  ET  STRYCHNINE 
PHOSPHATUM.1 
By  George  M.  Beringer. 
1  Read  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  New  Jersey  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion, June  11,  1913. 
