REMARKS  ON  THE  DECOCTUM  ALOES  COMPOSITUM.  355 
measure  withdrawn  from  the  hides,  and  on  their  re-immersion  in 
the  tan-pit,  the  tanning  proceeds  with  increased  rapidity.  The 
effect  of  these  operations  through  the  influence  of  air  and  mois- 
ture, probably  greatly  facilitates  the  production  of  the  denser 
variety  of  leather. — London  Pharm.  Journ.,  Aug.,  185T. 
HE  MARKS  ON  THE  DECOCTUM  ALOES  COMPOSITUM. 
By  Israel  J.  Grahame. 
Read  before  the  College,  February  4th,  1858. 
Although  this  is  not  an  officinal  of  the  U.  S.  P.,  it  is  occa- 
sionally prescribed  by  our  physicians,  and  its  preparation  in 
accordance  with  correct  principles,  and  in  a  manner  that  will 
present  a  mixture  of  uniform  and  elegant  appearance,  is  a  de- 
sideratum to  every  pharmaceutist.  As  made  by  the  formulae  of 
the  British  Colleges,  in  all  of  which  it  is  officinal,  the  Aloes, 
Myrrh,  Saffron,  Liquorice  and  Carbonate  of  Potassa,  are  boiled 
together  with  the  water  for  a  considerable  time,  and  to  the 
strained  decoction  thus  obtained,  the  Compound  Tincture  of  Car- 
damom is  added. 
By  this  process,  while  the  virtues  of  the  Aloes  are  very  much 
impaired  by  the  long  boiling,  and  much  insoluble  extractive 
formed,  the  aromatic  qualities  of  both  the  Saffron  and  Myrrh 
are  nearly  dissipated ;  and  the  result  is  a  very  turbid  looking 
decoction,  which  continues  to  deposit  long  after  the  mixture  is 
completed;  and  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  the  clear  liquid 
produced  after  sufficient  repose,  possesses  any  of  the  pur- 
gative quality  of  the  Aloes  ;  the  amount  of  this  principle  con- 
tained in  it,  is  at  all  events  very  small.  Consequent  upon 
this,  is  the  necessity  of  administering  the  medicine  in  large 
and  nauseating  doses,  if  the  purgative  effect  is  desired  to  be 
produced. 
Considered  apart  from  its  therapeutic  value,  the  inelegant 
appearance  of  the  compound  thus  made  and  dispensed  from  our 
establishments,  renders  a  change  of  formula  desirable. 
In  view  of  these  facts,  I  offer  the  following  formula  for  its 
preparation,  as  more  in  accordance  with  the  objects  sought  in 
the  compound ;  and  would  also  suggest  the  term  « Mistura 
