96 
PHARMACEUTICAL NOTICES. 
The best process yet published foratropia is that of Mein, 
noticed in the United States Dispensatory, and in which the 
root is the subject of treatment with alcohol, lime, etc. 
As we cannot get belladonna root here, the only available 
source is the best extract, which, independent of the large 
amount of inert matter to get rid of, is too expensive to be 
employed with that view. Those who incline to make 
the experiment, however, may proceed by treating the ex- 
tract with warm water until all the soluble portion is dis- 
solved, filtering out the chlorophylle and albumen, evapo- 
rating the solution to a syrup, dissolving this in alcohol, and 
filtering if necessary, and then proceeding as in Mein's 
process with lime, acid, etc. 
Belladonna leaves contain a large quantity of dark 
colouring matter, which renders the recent juice claret co- 
loured, and is the chief cause of the staining. A solution 
of extract of belladonna precipitated with subacetate of 
lead, the excess of lead carefully with sulphuric acid, and 
the solution filtered from the sulphate of lead, carefully 
evaporated to four times the weight of the extract, no doubt 
would answer all the purposes of the solution of atropia. 
Syrup of Orange Peel. 
Those who are in the habit of preparing the syrup of 
orange peel according to the United States Pharmacopoeia, 
know that it is strongly disposed to fermentation, and 
rapidly loses its agreeable qualities in warm weather. 
When made by the following formula it is more aromatic 
and preserves readily. 
Two ounces of recently dried peel of the sweet orange 
is reduced to powder and lixiviated with a mixture of two 
parts of alcohol and one of water, until six fluid ounces are 
obtained. This tincture is then poured over and mixed 
well with 32 ounces (av.) of sugar in coarse powder, and 
spread on paper until the alcohol has evaporated. When 
this is accomplished, the aromatized sugar is made into 
