ON  THE  SYRUP  OF  IPECACUANHA.  129 
Owing  to  the  great  instability  of  many  of  the  officinal  syrups, 
much  dijfficulty  and  annoyance  have  been  experienced  by  phar- 
macists in  their  preservation,  for  a  long  period  in  warm  weather. 
No  matter  how  carefully  prepared,  certain  of  these  syrups  are 
liable  to  spoil  if  long  kept,  and  in  consequence  of  this  tendency, 
apothecaries  are  obliged  to  make  them  in  small  quantities  at  a 
time,  in  order  to  avoid  loss. 
Various  means  have  been  proposed  for  the  preservation  of 
syrups,  and  many  expedients  have  been  resorted  to,  but  none 
seem  to  have  effectually  accomplished  the  object.  Many  of  the 
agents  recommended  for  this  purpose  are  both  pharmaceutically 
and  medicinally  objectionable.  Some  adopt  the  plan  of  putting 
the  syrup,  while  hot,  into  bottles,  corking  tightly  and  keeping 
them  in  a  cool  place  ;  but  this  is  troublesome  and  but  few  will 
do  it,  and  even  after  this  precaution  has  been  observed,  the 
syrup,  when  opened  and  transferred  to  the  shop  bottle,  is  still 
liable  to  spoil,  unless  used  in  a  short  time. 
With  the  view  of  conquering  this  difficulty  in  some  of  the 
more  important  officinal  syrups,  such  as  those  of  ipecac,  and  rhu- 
barb, mentioned  above,  and  senega,  scilla  comp.,  wild  cherry, 
&c.,  the  writer  has  been  engaged  for  the  last  year  in  a  series  of 
experiments  for  the  purpose  of  devising  a  set  of  formulas  for 
these  syrups,  by  which  they  may  be  made  not  only  more  effi- 
cient and  reliable,  but  also  sure  as  to  their  stability. 
The  formula  and  process  for  the  syrup  of  ipecac.  I  present 
below,  and  the  result  of  my  efforts  with  the  others  will  be  given 
in  this  Journal  as  soon  as  the  process  for  each  is  perfected  and 
thoroughly  tested. 
Take  of  Ipecacuanha  in  powder,  No.  60,  two  troyounces. 
Acetic  acid,  sixty  minims. 
Glycerin,  eight  fluidounces. 
White  sugar,  in  coarse  powder,  eighteen  troyounces. 
Alcohol, 
Water, 
Diluted  Alcohol,  of  each  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Moisten  the  ipecac,  with  alcohol,  pack  it  firmly  in  a  cylindrical 
glass  percolator,  then  gradually  pour  upon  it,  first,  two  fluid  oz. 
of  alcohol ;  wh^n  this  has  been  absorbed,  pour  on  gradually  eight 
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