322 
Syrups. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1909. 
The  N.F.  formula  has  likewise  been  criticized  because  it  has 
changed  the  proportion  of  the  drug  constituents  and  also  the  men- 
struum used  as  being  insufficient  in  alcohol.  Both  of  these  criti- 
cisms have  been  considered.  The  slight  change  made  in  the  pro- 
portion of  drugs  from  that  in  the  preparation  as  originally  marketed 
is,  however,  not  material,  and  in  our  experiments  we  have  confined 
ourselves  to  the  drugs  and  active  constituents  in  the  proportions 
given  in  the  N.F.  The  four  samples  submitted  have  been  made  up 
with  different  menstruums :  No.  i  with  a  menstruum  of  alcohol 
i  volume,  water  7  volumes,  strictly  as  directed  by  the  N.F. ;  No.  2 
with  a  menstruum  of  glycerin  1  volume,  water  3  volumes ;  No.  3, 
first  menstruum  for  1  litre,  was  alcohol  100  ex.,  glycerin  100  c.c, 
water  400  c.c,  and  percolation  then  continued  with  alcohol  1  volume, 
water  5  volumes ;  No.  4,  first  menstruum  of  alcohol  100  c.c,  glycerin 
100  c.c,  water  200  c.c.  and  continuing  with  a  mixture  of  alcohol, 
1  volume,  water  3  volumes. 
It  will  be  seen  from  the  samples  shown  that  Nos.  1  and  2  are 
perfectly  clear  and  bright  syrups,  but  are  deficient  in  balsamic  flavor 
of  the  balm  of  gilead  buds  and  strength  of  the  other  drugs.  No.  3 
is  clear  and  possesses  more  color  and  flavor  of  the  constituents  but 
is  not  equal  in  flavor  and  strength  to  No!  4.  Consequently  we  are 
constrained  to  endorse  No.  4  as  having  the  proper  menstruum. 
To  obtain  a  product  more  clearly  corresponding  to  the  best 
of  those  in  the  market  we  would  recommend  the  addition  of  1  Gm. 
of  cudbear  to  the  formula  and  0.2  c.c  oil  of  sassafras  to  improve  the 
flavor,  the  formula  being  as  follows: 
White  pine  bark    85  Gms. 
Wild  cherry   85  Gms. 
Spikenard  root   10  Gms. 
Balm  of  gilead  buds   10  Gms. 
Sanguinaria    8  Gms. 
Sassafras  bark    7  Gms. 
Cudbear   1  Gm. 
Morphine  sulphate   . .   0.5  Gms. 
Chloroform    6  c.c. 
Sugar   650  Gms. 
Glycerin    100  c.c. 
Oil  of  sassafras   0.2  c.c. 
Alcohol  and  water,  of  each  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Reduce  the  vegetable  drugs  to  a  coarse  powder  and  thoroughly 
mix  them.    Moisten  the  powder  with  a  menstruum  composed  of  the 
