Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
July,  1909.  J 
Syrups. 
323 
glycerin,  100  c.c.  of  alcohol,  and  200  c.c.  of  water,  pack  in  a  perco- 
lator, and  macerate  for  twelve  hours.  Then  percolate,  using  first 
the  remainder  of  the  menstruum  and  then  a  mixture  of  alcohol 
1  volume  to  water  3  volumes  till  650  c.c.  of  percolate  is  obtained,  in 
which  dissolve  the  sugar  and  the  morphine  sulphate,  lastly  add  the 
chloroform  and  oil  of  sassafras,  agitate  thoroughly,  add  sufficient 
water  to  obtain  1000  c.c.  of  product,  and  strain. 
Syrupus  Quixidix-T.  N.F. — The  attempt  here  appears  to  have 
been  to  place  before  the  physician  a  formula  that  would  displace 
a  proprietary  syrup.  The  object  has  been  defeated  by  making  the 
syrup  too  thin  by  adding  solution  of  saccharine  and  mucilage  of 
acacia  and  likewise  by  the  selection  of  the  wrong  flavoring  orange 
flowers  in  place  of  orange.  The  consistence  is  such  that  the  quini- 
dine  does  not  stay  suspended  even  temporarily.  A  formula  that 
more  closely  simulates  the  proprietary  and  that  has  given  satisfac- 
tion to  a  number  of  physicians  is  here  given.  . 
Quinidine,  selected  fine  crystals   33  Gms. 
Oil  of  orange  peel   0.2  c.c. 
Syrup,  a  sufficient  quantity  to  make   1000  c.c. 
To  750  c.c.  of  syrup  contained  in  suitable  bottle  add  the  oil  of 
orange  and  the  quinidine,  shake  vigorously  to  disseminate,  and  then 
add  sufficient  syrup  to  make  1000  c.c. 
Syrupus  Rhamni  Cathartics  X.F. — Here  the  pharmacist  has 
been  confronted  by  an  anomalous  situation,  namely,  a  legal  standard 
and  formula  is  given  that  he  cannot  follow.  Fermented  juice  of 
buckthorn  is  directed  and  in  a  footnote  we  are  told,  "  That  if 
the  fresh  berries  cannot  be  obtained,  the  imported  fermented  juice 
may  be  used  in  preparing  the  syrup."  It  is  quite  true  that  in 
Europe  when  the  buckthorn  is  indigenous  several  of  the  Pharmaco- 
poeias direct  the  expressed  juice  of  the  fresh  ripe  berries  to  be  fer- 
mented before  making  into  syrup.  The  German  and  French  Phar- 
macopoeias direct  that  fermentation  be  allowed  to  proceed  in  the 
expressed  juice  until  a  portion  filtered  off  mixes  clear  with  half  of 
its  volume  of  alcohol  and  the  Pharmacopoeia  Helvetica  insures  fer- 
mentation by  the  addition  of  a  small  amount  of  sugar  and  some 
compressed  yeast. 
But  as  buckthorn  is  grown  only  infrequently  in  the  United 
States  as  a  shrub,  supplies  of  fresh  berries  are  not  available  to  the 
American  pharmacist  and  so  he  cannot  prepare  the  juice.    We  have 
