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PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTICES. 
lization ;  and  a  sample  of  Syr,  Senegoe  made  as  usual,  and  kept 
from  the  same  date,  has  become  loaded  with  crystals  and  con- 
taminated with  "motheriness." 
As  some  inconvenience  and  loss  of  acetic  acid  might  arise 
from  primarily  digesting  the  roots  in  dilute  acetic  acid  and  then 
evaporating  the  acid  infusion  to  the  requisite  measure  by  heat, 
I  would  propose  to  proceed  exactly  as  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia 
directs,  in  exhausting  the  roots,  and  evaporating  the  resulting 
liquid ;  but  to  carry  the  evaporation  one-eighth  further  than  is 
thus  directed,  and  then  to  make  up  that  one-eighth  with  the 
same  quantity  of  acetic  acid  (Acidum  Aeeticum,  U.  S.,  or  com- 
mercial acetic  acid,  No.  8,)  so  as  to  bring  the  liquor  to  the  acid 
standard  of  dilute  acetic  acid,  before  adding  the  sugar.  Thus, 
where  the  alcoholic  infusion  is  directed  to  be  evaporated  to  half 
a  pint,  as  it  is  in  the  case  of  Syrupus  Senegce,  I  would  evapo- 
rate it,  instead,  to  seven  ounces,  and  then  add  one  ounce  of 
Acidum  Aceticum.  Or  the  whole  exhaustion  may  be  done  by 
displacement  with  the  requisite  quantity  of  dilute  acetic  acid  to 
make  the  prescribed  measure  of  syrup,  discarding  the  use  of 
alcohol  entirely,  and  employing  the  dilute  acetic  acid  hot  at 
first. 
The  syrups  thus  made  are  decidedly  more  agreeable  than  those 
made  by  the  officinal  formulae,  and  would  probably  have  even  a 
more  satisfactory  effect  as  expectorants,  from  the  well  known 
properties  of  acetic  acid.  Yet  they  might,  in  certain  cases,  be 
supposed  objectionable  ;  and  some  degree  of  confusion  might 
ensue  in  practice,  by  so  decided  a  change  in  the  mode  of  prepa- 
ration on  the  part  of  some  pharmaceutists,  whilst  others  were 
adhering  to  the  old  preparations.  Uniformity  could  scarcely  be 
expected  in  such  a  matter,  at  once,  throughout  our  wide-spread 
country,  even  in  a  manifest  improvement.  I  would,  therefore, 
propose  that  the  syrups  thus  prepared  should  be  designated  as 
"acetic  syrups," — thus,  "Syrupus  Ipecacuanhce  acetieus,"  "Sy- 
rupus Senegoe  aceticus,"  "Syrupus  Scillee  compositus  aceticus^ 
&c.  &c,  until  the  benefit  of  the  proposed  alteration  shall  be 
proved  by  experience.  I  believe  that  some  of  the  fruit  syrups 
used  in  the  soda  water  branch  of  our  business  would  be  improved 
by  a  similar  acidification,  both  in  regard  to  keeping  through  the 
season,  and  as  to  flavor.     The  addition  of  one  fluid-ounce  of 
