'^'"Nov.''xf7t''"'}  Preparation  of  Citrate  of  Magnesium.  501 
THE  PREPARATION  OF  SOLUTION  OF  CITRATE  OF  MAG- 
NESIUM. 
BY  A.  G.  SCHLOTTERBECK. 
The  last  revision  of  the  United  States  "  Pharmacopoeia  "  presents 
to  us  a  changed  formula  for  the  above  preparation,  by  the  substitution 
of  carbonate  of  magnesium  in  place  of  magnesia.  This  change  is 
undoubtedly  a  great  improvement,  although  the  resulting  preparation  is 
still  unsatisfactory  on  account  of  its  turbidity  and  a  certain  floccular 
deposit  which  will  show  itself  in  the  course  of  a  very  short  time  after 
completion. 
In  experimenting  to  produce  the  solution  free  from  the  above-named 
objections,  without  deviating  from  the  formula  of  the  United  States 
"  Pharmacopoeia,"  I  find  that  the  following  modus  operandi  will  give  the 
desired  result : 
R. — Magnesli  carbonatis,  .  .  .  .  .    gr.  cc 
Acidi  citrici,      .  .  .  .  .  .        gr.  cccc 
Syrupi  acidi  citric!,  .  .  .  .  ,  f^ii 
Potassii  bicarbonatis,    .  .  .  .  .         gr.  xl 
Aquae  purae,  .  .  .  .  .  .    q.  s. 
Dissolve  the  citric  acid  in  four  fluidounces  of  water,  and,  having 
added  the  carbonate  of  magnesium,  previously  rubbed  through  a  sieve 
of  about  30  meshes  to  the  square  inch,  stir  until  it  is  dissolved.  Then 
add  the  syrup  of  citric  acid  and  sufficient  water  to  make  the  mixture 
measure  eleven  fluidounces.  Filter  this  product,  and  introduce  into  a 
suitable  bottle. 
Then  dissolve  the  bicarbonate  of  potassium  in  one  fluidounce  of  cold 
water;  filter  this  solution,  and  add  to  the  solution  of  citrate  of  magne- 
sium contained  in  the  bottle,  which  must  be  closed  with  a  cork,  and 
secured  with  wire  or  twine. 
Solution  of  citrate  of  magnesium  made  in  the  above  way  will  look 
clear  and  bright,  and  will  retain  its  transparency  for  any  length  of  time. 
Portland^  Maine. 
PREPARATION  OF  PHOSPHORUS  PILLS. 
Editor  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy : 
Below  is  a  process  for  making  phosphorus  pills  by  physicians'  pre- 
scriptions. It  may  not  be  new,  but,  as  much  trouble  seems  to  have 
been  experienced  by  pharmacists,  I  send  it  for  what  it  is  worth. 
Phosphorus  Pills. — Put  the  required  amount  of  phosphorus  in  a 
