U2 
AROMATIC  GLYCERATE  OF  RHUBARB. 
AKOMATIG  GLYCERATE  OF  RHUBARB— (GLYCERATUS 
RHEI  AROMATIOUS.) 
By  H.  Treverton  Bond. 
The  introduction  of  glycerin  has  worked  many  radical  changes 
in  pharmacy,  and  that  there  are  yet  many  uses  to  which  this 
admirable  substance  can  be  applied  there  is  not  the  slightest 
doubt.    One  of  the  most  important  purposes  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  its  further  utilization  is  its  substitution  for  sugar  in 
the  syrups  at  present  in  use.    There  are  many  reasons  to  sup- 
pose that  quite  a  number,  if  not  all,  the  present  officinal  syrups 
could  profitably  be  replaced  by  glycerates.    [See  page  177  for 
Glyceratus  simplex^  by  the  same  author. — Editor.] 
The  objections  to  syrups  are  well  known  and  numerous.  They 
are  liable  to  ferment  in  the  shelf  bottles  ;  they  ferment  in  the 
stomach,  and  to  many  persons  are  nauseating  and  disgusting 
when  taken  in  the  quantity  necessary  to  obtain  a  medicinal  dose 
of  the  active  ingredient  or  ingredients.  One  of  the  syrups  that, 
in  my  estimation,  can  be  very  beneficially  replaced  by  a  glyce- 
rate  is  aromatic  syr.  rhei,  and  having  succeeded  in  preparing 
such  an  article  resulting  in  an  elegant  and  handsome  pharma- 
ceutical preparation,  I  herewith  send  formula. 
Take  of  Rhubarb,  in  moderately  fine  powder,  2J  troyounces. 
Cloves,  Cinnamon,  each  in  fine  powder,  J  troyounce. 
Nutmeg,  in  moderately  fine  powder,  2  drachms- 
Glycerin,  IJ  pints. 
Diluted  alcohol,  1  " 
Water,  .  q.  s. 
Mix  eight  ounces  of  the  glycerin  with  the  diluted  alcohol,  then 
mix  the  powders,  and  having  moistened  them  with  f^iij  of  the 
mixture,  introduce  into  a  conical  percolator  and  gradually  pour 
on  the  glycerin  and  diluted  alcohol  mixture  until  a  pint  and  a 
half  of  the  tincture  is  obtained,  (displacing  the  last  portions,  if 
necessary,  with  water)  ;  add  the  rest  of  the  glycerin  to  the  tinc- 
ture, then  add  sufficient  water  to  measure  seven  pints,  and  mix 
thoroughly  together  and  filter. 
The  result  is  a  handsome  preparation,  identical  in  strength 
with  the  syr.  rhei.  aro.  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacoepia,  and  posseses 
none  of  its  objections  while  it  has  many  advantages  ;  it  can  be 
