AmMly"ri8P76arm}  Effervescing  Preparations.  207 
The  quantity  of  glycerin  required  in  this  one  seems  quite  large  when 
compared  with  the  one  just  before  it,  which  is  due  to  the  absence  of 
an  adhesive  substance  ;  for  if  two  grains  of  powdered  acacia  be  added, 
only  eight  drops  are  required. 
R 
Quiniae  sulph.,  .  .  .  gr.  xxx 
Ferri.  sulph.  exsic,  ...  gr.  xv 
Strychnia?  sulph  ,         .  .  .  gr.  i 
Glycerinae,  .  .  gtt.  xii  (or  syr.  acac,  gtt.  xv) 
M.  ft.  pil ,  No.  xxx. 
First  rub  the  sulph.  strychnia  with  a  drop  of  water,  add  the  other 
ingredients  and  mix  the  whole  thoroughly  together ;  then  add  the 
glycerin,  and  triturate  briskly  until  an  even  mass  is  formed,  which 
divide  into  pills  as  quickly  as  possible.  When  done  slowly,  the  mass 
becomes  very  brittle,  and  cannot  be  rolled  out.  In  the  above  formula 
I  first  noticed  the  great  advantage  of  knowing  the  exact  quantity  of 
this  excipient  for  forming  a  mass,  for  which  purpose  eighteen  drops 
may  be  added  on  a  slow  operation. 
I  have  a  list  of  formulas  similar  to  the  above  always  within  reach  at 
the  dispensing  counter,  to  which  I  can  refer  to  ascertain  the  amount  of 
glycerin  necessary  to  form  a  mass,  and  also  write  the  amount  used  on 
the  prescription.  The  glycerin  is  best  dropped  by  means  of  a  glass 
tube  drawn  out  at  one  end  to  an  aperture  of  J-  inch  (or  by  means  of  the 
apparatus  figured  on  page  99  of  this  volume). 
EFFERVESCING  PREPARATION  OF  SODIUM  TARTRATE. 
BY  HENRY  T.   HAYHURST,  PH.G. 
[From  an  Inaugural  Essay.) 
Within  a  few  years  past,  an  effervescing  solution  of  sodium  tartrate1 
has  been  slowly  gaining  confidence  among  physicians  as  an  active 
cathartic  and  purge,  superior  to  solution  of  magnesium  citrate,  among 
the  people  as  a  cooling  beverage  and  agreeable  cathartic,  and  among 
pharmacists  as  an  elegant,  permanent  and  profitable  preparation.  Its 
superiority  over  solution  of  magnesium  citrate  lies  principally  in  the 
following  qualities  :  It  does  not  debilitate  the  bowels,  and  leave  them 
in  a  weakened  condition.  It  does  not  produce  tenesmus,  and  therefore 
can  be  used  with  much  less  pain,  as  a  purge,  where  hemorrhoids  are 
1  See  "American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,"  1873,  P-  z%9- 
