558 
Syrup  of  Wild  Cherry. 
/Am. Jour.  Pharm. 
t      Nov.,  1883. 
The  second  stage  of  change  consists  in  positive  fermentation  whereby 
the  syrup  becomes  roiled,  soured,  and  generally  stale  and  worthless. 
The  third  stage  of  deterioration  is  characterized  by  the  disappear- 
ance of  the  cyanhydric  acid,  either  by  evaporation  or  positive  destruc- 
tion during  the  fermentative  decay.  Another  change  of  a  peculiar  kind 
is  also  often  noticeable,  although  in  itself  not  vicious.  It  seems  to  be 
due  to  the  normal  presence  in  the  drug  of  a  chemical  ferment  which 
rapidly  changes  the  sugar  of  the  syrup  into  an  amorphous  deliquescent 
form.  This  action  may  result  from  the  synaptase,  but  it  is  more  prob- 
ably effected  through  a  distinct  agency.  The  objection  to  this  species 
of  alteration  is  that  it  renders  the  syrup  more  conducive  to  the  posi- 
tively deleterious  influences  above  noted. 
Excepting  the  last,  all  of  these  changes  are  injurious  enough,  but 
although  the  fermentation  renders  the  syrup  wholly  unfit  for  use  from 
an  [esthetic  point  of  view,  the  dissipation  of  the  cyanhydric  acid  causes 
almost  absolute  worthlessness,  from  a  therapeutic  point  of  view. 
Knowing  the  relative  amount  of  cyanhydric  that  the  syrup  should 
contain,  an  article  deteriorated  simply  in  the  loss  of  this  agent,  can 
be  easily  regenerated  by  the  requisite  addition  of  the  acid  and  some 
oil  of  bitter  almonds.  In  fact,  a  very  definite  and  practical  method 
for  producing  this  syrup,  de  novo,  would  consist  in  extracting  the  astrin- 
gency  and  bitterness  to  the  exclusion  of  the  synaptase,  and  completing 
the  syrup  by  the  addition  of  the  known  proportion  of  cyanhydric  acid 
and  oil  of  bitter  almond.  Since  in  such  a  process  it  becomes  essential 
to  employ  a  fresh  and  full  strength  cyanhydric  acid,  the  writer  finds  it 
opportune  to  interpolate  a  few  remarks  on  this  subject,  and  finally 
append  a  formula  for  such  a  preparation. 
The  first  formula  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  for  cyanhydric  acid,  how- 
ever excellent  it  may  be  in  large  operations,  is  not  suited  as  a  process 
for  the  shop.  The  second  formula  to  be  used  as  an  alternate  process 
expressly  for  the  counter,  is  badly  defective  in  a  practical  aspect, 
although  theoretically  splendid.  The  argentic  cyanide  is  one  of  the 
most  reluctant  substances  to  manipulate  for  a  body  having  such  a  bland 
appearance.  It  adheres  most  obstinately  to  everything,  so  that  its 
accurate  weighing  and  admixture  with  acidified  water  becomes  almost 
impossible.  Furthermore  the  layer  of  argentic  chloride  prevents  a 
perfect  decomposition,  and  hence  the  liquid  ultimately  contains  an 
excess  of  chlorohydric  acid,  and  a  corresponding  deficiency  of  cyan- 
hydric acid.    It  is  strange  that  the  Pharmacopoeia  embodied  the  first 
