ON  THE  SOLVENT  POWER  OF  SIMPLE  SYRUP. 
295 
be  added  to  boiling  'Syrupus,'  a  violent  reaction  ensues,  the 
sugar  is  deprived  of  its  water,  sub-nitrate  is  formed,  and,  after 
a  general  effervescing  and  fuming,  a  solid  mass,  the  consistency 
of  lead  plaster,  results.  But  if  crystals  of  tris-nitrate  be  added 
to  cold  4  Syrupus'  they  are  dissolved  in  large  quantities,  a,  at 
first,  colorless  solution  resulting.  This  salt,  when  taken  in- 
ternally, in  syrup,  in  six  grain  doses,  acted  as  an  excellent  tonic, 
increasing  the  appetite  to  a  wonderful  degree  and  blackening 
the  stools.  Dr.  Weir  Mitchell  has  used  this  salt  twice  in  cases 
of  atonic  dyspepsia,  and  with  excellent  results.  We  subjoin  a 
formula  which  is  to  be  used  extemporaneously  only  : 
R.  Bismuthi  tris-nitratis  .  .  giss. 
Syrupus  Zingib.  vel. 
Limonis  vel  Aurantii  Corticis  .  f.^vi. 
Misce  sine  calore. 
Dose,  three  teaspoonsful  before  meals.  We  have  the  most 
sanguine  hopes  from  this  preparation,  and  solicit  a  fair  trial. 
Again,  there  is  the  anhydrous  sublimed  perchloride  of  iron,  an 
infinitely  better  form  for  iron  than  the  nauseous  Tinct.  Ferri 
Muriat.  This  anhydrous  salt,  when  dissolved  in  4  Syrupus,'  re- 
mains anhydrous,  and  is  far  more  astringent,  as  well  as  far 
pleasanter  for  exhibition  than  the  tincture.  This  administration 
of  an  anhydrous  chloride  of  iron  will  no  doubt  be  found  of  great 
service  in  cases  of  menorrhagia,  some  states  of  albuminaria,  as  a 
gargle,  and  even  as  a  simple  tonic.  The  tinctures  of  the  various 
resins,  turpentine,  etc.,  etc.,  may  be  administered  in  4  Syrupus' 
far  better  than  to  dilute  them  with  water.  We  have  evidence 
enough,  however,  to  call  attention  to  the  general  proposition  we 
have  tried  to  explain,  and  we  must  content  ourselves  with  this. 
We  wish  it  to  be  noticed  that  cane  sugar  has  been  used  in 
our  experiments.  It  might  be  of  use  to  ascertain  whether 
cane  or  grape  sugar  possessed  the  greater  solvent  power,  and 
thus  show  whether  syrup  or  honey  is  the  better  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  the  pharmaceutist. 
In  this  paper  we  have  endeavored  to  point  out — 
1.  Some  specific  solvent  powers  of  syrup. 
2.  That  many  bodies  may  be  dissolved  in  syrup  which  could 
not  be  dissolved  in  water,  owing  to  the  latter  forming  some 
chemical  salt  with  the  former ;  but  that  by  opposing  the  physi- 
