%eb.uri876.arm'}  Formulas  of  so-called  Elegant  Preparations.  57 
The  advantages  of  this  process  consist  in  the  practically  perfect  sub 
division  of  the  phosphorus  at  a  low  temperature,  which  insures  safety 
with  ordinary  care,  producing  a  mass  easily  worked,  a  pill  rapidly  dried 
and  firm  for  coating,  with  so  small  an  amount  of  oxidation  throughout 
as  to  be  insignificant.  The  pills,  on  being  powdered  in  the  dark,  ex- 
hibit uniform  luminosity,  showing  the  thorough  distribution  of  the 
phosphorus. 
Finally,  let  the  operator  who  proposes  to  test  this  process  for  him- 
self, adhere  to  the  directions  I  have  endeavored  to  make  plain,  and  I 
believe  he  will  find,  as  I  have,  a  simple  way  out  of  his  phosphorus  pill 
troubles. 
Indianapolis ,  Ind.,  January  14-th,  1876. 
SOME   FORMULAS   OF   THE   SO-CALLED   ELEGANT  PREPARA- 
TIONS. 
BY  JOHN  W.  WATTS. 
It  is  evident  to  almost  every  careful  observer  that  a  large  number  of 
the  above-mentioned  preparations  are  not  exactly  what  the  manufac- 
turers would  have  the  physicians  and  druggists  to  believe,  though  they 
may  in  a  measure  substitute  those  preparations  which  they  are  intended 
to  represent.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  writer  that  it  is  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  a  mere  imposition  to  bestow  upon  preparations  names 
which  they  are  not  justly  entitled  to.  Would  it  not  be  of  more  in- 
terest to  the  physician,  as  well  as  to  the  pharmacist,  to  have  these 
preparations  fairly  represented,  and  not  displayed  with  circulars,  etc., 
as  if  they  were  patent  medicines  which  some  manufacturers  seem  wont 
to  do  ?  Below  will  be  found  a  few  formulas  which  are  used  to  no 
little  extent,  viz  : 
Syrup  of  the  phosphates  of  iron,  quinia  and  strychnia  : 
Sulphate  of  iron  (pure),  .  .  .        ^iv  and  grs.  16 
Sulphate  of  quinia,  ...  ^ii  and  grs.  8 
Strychnia,  .....       grs.  iv 
Phosphate  of  sodium,  .  .  .  J5viii  and  grs.  32 
Phosphoric  acid  (dilute),  .  .  .  ^viii 
Powdered  sugar,  .... 
Hydrochloric  acid,        .  .  .  .    ad  q.  s. 
Dissolve  the  sulphate  of  iron  and  phosphate  of  sodium  each  in  4  ozs. 
boiling  water  separately,  pour  together,  collect  the  precipitate  and 
