PHARMACEUTICAL NOTICES. 
197 
a dull colour; this he states may be remedied by using dry 
carbonate of soda, and by diluting the obtained fluid with an 
equal volume of distilled water, before precipitating. 
Syrup of Asparagus. Since the introduction of this 
article into the Materia Medica, many formula have been 
given for its preparation; among these the following is said to 
afford good results. 
Eight pounds of asparagus are to be cut into small strips or 
pieces, and subjected to strong pressure; the juice thus obtain- 
ed is to be evaporated to the consistence of syrup, and the 
asparagine suffered to crystallize; the uncrystallized portion 
is then to be decanted and still further evaporated to the con- 
sistence of an extract. 
The perenchyma of the tops or green portion of the shoots 
is to be extracted by macerating them for some days in half 
their weight of alcohol of 23°, after due maceration, the tinc- 
ture is to be pressed out and used to take up all soluble por- 
tions of the above mentioned extract, and then distilled to 
drive off the alcohol. To the residue the asparagine is to be 
added and a syrup formed in the usual manner. 
Iodide of Potassium. — There is scarcely any one of the 
salts, for the preparation of which so many processes have 
been devised, as the iodide of potassium. The following, 
which is recommended by M. Barruel, has the advantage, 
according to M. Cottereau, of affording a pure article, whilst 
at the same time it is economical and readily executed. 
It consists in making a solution of caustic potash with one 
part of the alkali to three of water. To this solution, small 
portions of iodine purified by sublimation, are to be gradually 
added, carefully stirring the mixture with a glass rod. The 
iodine rapidly disappears, and fresh portions are to be added 
until the solution acquires a somewhat brownish colour indi- 
cating a slight excess. When the potash is about half saturated, 
a white precipitate is formed, owing to the formation of an 
iodite of potassa, which being less soluble than the iodide is 
