394 
Size  of  Drops. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t    August,  1883. 
To  the  lactucarium  contained  in  a  flask  or  other  vessel  capable  of 
being  tightly  closed,  add  the  ether  and  macerate  with  occasional  agita- 
tion for  24  hours,  at  the  end  of  which  time  add  10  parts  of  water,  and 
having  shaken  the  flask  well,  distil  off  the  ether  by  the  immersion  of 
the  flask  in  hot  water,  heat  being  continued  for  a  short  time  after  the 
odor  of  ether  has  entirely  disappeared ;  when  cool  add  the  alcohol  and 
again  macerate  for  twenty-four  hours  with  frequent  agitation.  Then 
transfer  the  contents  of  the  flask  to  a  percolator,  and  when  the  liquid 
has  ceased  to  pass,  gradually  pour  on  orange  flower  water,  until  30  parts 
of  percolate  are  obtained ;  set  this  portion  aside  and  continue  the  perco- 
lation with  water  until  the  percolate  passes  tasteless,  evaporate  the  last 
portion  to  five"  parts  and  add  to  the  portion  set  aside.  Filter  the 
mixture  and  pass  through  the  filter  a  sufficient  quantity  of  orange 
flower  water  to  make  the  filtrate  weigh  35  parts.  Having  placed  the 
sugar  in  a  percolator  pour  upon  it  the  menstruum,  cover  well  and  set 
aside  that  a  syrup  may  be  formed. 
Thus  prepared  the  syrup  has  a  rather  agreeable  odor,  is  of  a  reddish 
brown  or  yellowish  brown  color,  transparent,  has  a  not  unpleasant 
bitter  taste,  and  is  miscible  in  all  proportions  with  water  and  alcohol, 
without  becoming  turbid.  The  exhausted  residue  left  by  the  above 
treatment  is  of  a  light  brown  color,  crummy  between  the  fingers,  odor- 
less and  tasteless,  and  when  treated  with  dilute  acids  or  weak  alkalies 
undergoes  no  change. 
By  using  water  inslead  of  orange  flower  water  in  the  above  process, 
the  syrup  will  exactly  represent  that  of  the  Pharmacopoeia ;  but  made 
as  above  it  will  have  a  more  agreeable  flavor. 
^  SIZE  OF  DROPS. 
By  Professor  Charles  F.  Himes,  Ph.D.,  Carlisle,  Pa.^ 
In  the  recent  edition,  the  loth,  of  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory,  among 
other  modes  of  approximate  measurement,  in  the  ndministration  of 
medicines  given,  is  that  by  drops,  and  in  calling  attention  to  the  con- 
ditions afl*ecting  the  size  of  drops,  the  statement  is  made,  that  "the 
drops  from  a  full  bottle  should  be  less  than  from  one  more  or  less 
emptied.''  There  is  no  indication  that  the  statement  rests  upon  direct 
tests,  and  it  is  so  decidedly  at  variance  with  the  results  of  experiment, 
iReprint  from  the  "Journal  of  the  Franklin  Institute,"  July,  1883, 
<'ommunicated  by  the  author. 
