88 
Pharmaceutical  Notes. 
J  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
X    February,  1S95. 
To  effect  this,  some  follow  the  practice  of  macerating  bay  leaves 
or  turmeric,  or  both,  in  the  solution  of  the  oils,  while  others  add 
solution  of  potassa  to  the  oils  of  bay  and  allspice  before  dissolving 
them  in  alcohol. 
Some  also  dissolve  a  certain  amount  of  borax  in  the  water  before 
it  is  added  to  the  alcoholic  oil  solution. 
Still  others  use  the  potash  solution  and  make-the  borax  addition 
besides. 
When  the  last  method  is  employed  the  bay  rum  will  possess  a 
handsome  yellow  color 
But  if  the  preparation,  thus  prepared,  is  mixed  with  glycerin,  the 
effect  repeatedly  mentioned  takes  place,  namely,  the  borax  is  decom- 
posed and  the  acid  liberated. 
This  effect  may  readily  be  observed  after  the  glycerin  addition. 
The  mixture  will  decolorize,  the  yellow  color  almost  entirely  dis- 
appears, and  the  previously  alkaline  bay  rum  will  turn  distinctly 
acid  to  test  paper. 
Other  illustrations  may  be  mentioned,  where  chemical  incompati- 
bility may  arise  between  borax  and  glycerin,  but  a  little  reflection 
will  readily  indicate  the  liability  of  its  occurrence. 
In  the  preparation  of  toilet  washes,  in  which  it  is  desirable  to 
keep  the  borax  unchanged,  this  fact  must  be  considered  with  care. 
One  point  we  may  perhaps  call  attention  to,  namely,  the  chemical 
incompatibility  of  borax  with  fluid  extracts  and  tinctures  containing 
glycerin. 
Astringent  fluid  extracts,  such  as  those  of  sumach  berries,  rose, 
etc.,  as  a  rule,  contain  glycerin,  and  it  is  well  known  that  these 
preparations  enter  frequently  into  mouth  washes  containing  borax. 
VINEGAR  OF  SQUILL. 
Considerable  variation  appears  to  exist  in  the  color  of  this 
preparation. 
As  usually  found  in  the  United  States  it  is  yellow,  due  to  the 
employment  of  the  white  variety  of  the  drug  in  its  preparation. 
Occasionally,  however,  we  find  the  red  variety  of  squill  in  our 
market,  and  this  is  especially  the  case  with  the  ground  drug. 
Vinegar  of  squill,  made  from  this  variety,  is  red-brown,  appears 
to  have  a  more  pronouncedly  bitter  taste,  which  it  will  communicate 
to  the  syrup  made  therefrom,  and  which  will  also  have  a  similar  color. 
