PART III

PHARMACY

Acacia Mucilage. E. Reyer. (Drugg. Circ., Pharm. Journ. [4], 25, 182.) Mucilage of acacia prepared with cinnamon water as the solvent is found to keep well, free from mould, and to retain the odour of the cinnamon for 3 months. It is suggested that this expedient is preferable to sterilizing, since sterilized gum soon breaks down unless stored in small unopened vessels.

Acetone Collodion, B.P. Codex. G. Coull. (Pharm. Journ. [4], 26, 566.) The formula of the B.P. Codex, containing 5 per cent. of pyroxyllin, is considered to be too thick. If a collodion thicker than the official formula be required, it is suggested that the preparation should be made to contain 3 per cent. of nitrocellulose.

Adrenine Solutions, Coloration of. A. Gunn and E. F. Harrison. (Pharm. Journ. [4], 26, 513.) Adrenine may be dissolved in water with the aid of a smaller quantity of hydrochloric acid than one molecular equivalent, but such a solution, even if kept out of contact with air, gradually acquires a red colour. Contact with alkaline glass and exposure to the air considerably accelerate such coloration. Exposure to light,

or the presence of a minute amount of ferric salt, increases the coloration, but not very strongly. A solution which does not readily discolour, even when exposed to light and air for some weeks, is obtained by using about 0-3 part of real hydrochloric acid to each part of adrenine-i.e., about half as much again as one molecular equivalent. (To prepare such a solution, for 1 gramme of adrenine, 2-8 c.c. of the official dilute hydrochloric acid are required; or, very approximately, 3 minims for 1 grain.)

Discoloured solutions show greatly reduced physiological activity, the reduction being, approximately, proportional to the degree of coloration.

Agurin incompatible with Syrup. A. Ha a s. (Pharm. Zeit., 53, 37.) Although when first mixed agurin gives clear solutions with mixtures sweetened with syrup, a change occurs on standing and a deposit is formed sooner or later, according to the temperature. Agurin should, therefore, be compounded with a simple aromatic vehicle, such as peppermint or cinnamon water, and if a sweet taste is necessary a little soluble saccharin may be employed. With these vehicles a 3: 100 solution is quite stable.

Alkalinity of Glass Bottles for Hypodermic Injections, Testing for. M. Gruebler. (Pharm. Post., 40, 579.) In view of the indifferent quality of much of the glassware supplied for use in pharmacy, it is absolutely necessary that bottles should be tested for the presence of soluble alkali, especially when they are to contain delicate preparations such as hypodermic injections which have to be sterilized. The test is thus applied: The bottles after having been well washed, are filled with distilled water to which a little 1 per cent. solution of phenolphthalein has been added; the glass stoppers are then tied down, and they are then immersed for 30 minutes in boiling water or in steam. Those vessels in which the liquid remains perfectly free from colour may be employed for the preparation, sterilization and storing of alkaloidal solutions. Those bottles which show a red tint may possibly be freed from soluble alkali by a fresh washing with boiling water, after which they should again be tested with phenolphthalein. Those again showing a red tint should then be absolutely rejected. Experiments show that the amount of decomposition of alkaloids is directly proportional to the amount of soluble alkali in the glass. By using glass vessels free from this defect, even adrenaline hydrochloride solutions may be sterilized without undergoing decomposition. (See also Year-Book, 1905, 253.)

Alpine Toilet Jelly. (Drugg. Circ., 52, 18.) Glycerin, 12 drachms; white petrolatum, 9 drachms; hydrous wool fat, 5 drachms; oil of rose, enough to perfume.

Ammonia Liniment, Improved Formula for. (Apoth. Zeit., 22, 1037.) Castor oil, 30; sesame oil, 50; solution of ammonia, 20. Mix by varying the proportion of castor oil; the consistence of the liniment may be modified as desired.

Antimony Chloride Solution. A. Minto McDonald

and J. Rutherford Hill. (Pharm. Journ. [4], 26, 86.) It is suggested that instead of the crude impure commercial liquor this preparation should be made from one of the two following formulae :

Antimonious chloride, 132 grains; hydrochloric acid B.P., 3 fl. drachms; distilled water to make 1 fl. oz.

This gives a clear water-white solution, sp. gr. about 1.290. If it is desired to have a tinted liquor similar to that found in commerce, this can be easily obtained by adding to each fluid ounce of the above about 15 or 20 grains of ferric chloride, which raises the density to about 1-32. This formula gives the finest preparation, but antimonious chloride is not found in every pharmacy, though it is a regular commercial article, and can be obtained in a state of purity. The liquor may, however, be as easily made from antimonious oxide as follows:

Antimonious oxide, Sb2O3, 84 grains; hydrochloric acid B.P., 5 fl. drachms; distilled water to make 1 fl. oz.

In either case the liquor can be made in a few minutes, and the strength may be varied to suit the wishes of the prescriber. When oxide is used the solution may be slightly hazy, and filtration or subsidence may be necessary.

The commercial liquor is found to contain a large amount of sulphate. Its characters may be closely imitated by the following formula:

Antimonious chloride, 132 grains; hydrochloric acid B.P., 3 fl. drachms; solution of persulphate of iron B.P., § fl. drachm; distilled water to make 1 fl. oz.

The above represents about 30 per cent. w/v. antimonious chloride; 16 per cent. of free hydrochloric acid, HCl, and 3 per cent. of ferric sulphate. Several commercial samples indicated a decidedly larger percentage of solution of ferric sulphate.

A sample made by the B.P. 1885 process gave the specific gravity 1-44, and indicated about 39 per cent. of antimonious chloride and about 18 per cent. of free hydrochloric acid, HCl. There was also a distinct trace of iron, but nothing like the percentage present in commercial samples, and no trace of sulphate.

Antipyrine, Phenacetine and Antifebrin, Incompatibility of Mixture of. G. Ceroni. (Boll. Chim. farm., 1907, 794.) Although these three compounds are quite permanent when powdered separately, if they are rubbed down together in a

mortar the mixture soon becomes pasty and ultimately sets to a hard mass. If these three antipyretics be prescribed together, two of them should be mixed intimately and the third merely added in powder for each dose. The whole should then be wrapped in wax paper.

Antiseptic Hand and Toilet Lotion. J. T. Harbold. (Proc. Amer. Pharm. Assoc., 55, 136.) A non-sticky, nongreasy, non-irritating preparation of perfect consistence is thus prepared Tragacanth, 2 drachms; quince seed, 15 drachms; borax, 6 drachms; boric acid, 8 drachms; glycerin, 10 ozs. ; alcohol 90 per cent., 10 ozs.; sodium benzoate, 3 drachms; boiling water, 80 fl. oz.; perfume and colour, q.s.; water to make 6 pints 8 fl. ozs. Make a homogeneous mucilage with the tragacanth and 32 fl. ozs. of the water. Infuse the quince seeds in boiling water, for 4 hours, stirring frequently, then strain. Dissolve the borax, boric acid and sodium benzoate in the rest of the hot water; add the perfume and glycerin dissolved in the alcohol, and finally add in small portions at a time the two mucilages which have been previously mixed. Then agitate thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous mixture.

Antiseptic Liquid. R. Haberman. (Drugg. Circ., 51, 602.) Sodium salicylate, 30 grains; sodium benzoate, 30 grains ; thymol, 10 grains; eucalyptol, 10 grains; menthol, 10 grains; oil of gaultheria, 12 minims; pumilio pine oil, 12 minims ; sylvestris pine oil, 12 minims; sodium bicarbonate, 2 ozs.; sodium biborate, 2 ozs.; glycerin, 17 ozs.; alcohol 90 per cent., 4 fl. oz. ; powdered cudbear, 6 drachms; water, enough to make 6 pints 8 fl. oz. Mix, let stand 48 hours, and filter.

Apomorphine Hydrochloride Solutions, Causes of Change of. G. Pérugier. (Répertoire [3], 19, 301.) The causes of the coloration of apomorphine hydrochloride solutions. are: Oxidation in presence of light, alkalinity of glass containers and presence of ammonia in the air. To obviate this the solutions should be prepared in a photographic dark room, in which a little acetic acid has previously been allowed to evaporate, to remove all free ammonia from the air. The addition of a small amount of 10 per cent. solution of HCl should also be made to the solution. Sterilized distilled water should be the solvent and the storage vials should be sterilized before filling; thus rendering heating after filling unnecessary. A typical formula for the solution is: Apomorphine hydrochloride, 50 centigrammes ;

hydrochloric acid 10 per cent., 1-5 Gm.; sterilized distilled water to make 100 c.c.

Application for Insect Bites. Joly. (Presse Médic., 1908, 460; Apoth Zeit., 23, 460.) Formaldehyde solution, 30; acetic acid, 1 (or acetone, 8); xylol, 10; Canada balsam, 2; staranise oil, q.s. To be kept in small stoppered bottles and applied as soon as possible to the bites.

Aqua cosmetica Kummerfeldii. (Berlin Formulary; Pharm. Zentralh., 49, 211.) Powdered camphor, 6; gum acacia, 6; precipitated sulphur, 20 to 28; lime water, 160.

Atoxyl-Mercuric Iodide Injections. Labat. (Bull. Soc. Pharm. Bordeaux; Apoth. Zeit., 23, 320.) The following are for administration by intramuscular injection: (1) Atoxyl, 10 Gm.; mercuric iodide, 0-5 Gm.; sodium iodide, 5 Gm.; distilled water to 100 c.c. Each c.c. of this, therefore, contains 5 milligrammes of mercuric iodide and 10 centigrammes of atoxyl. A weaker injection, containing 2 milligrammes of mercuric iodide per c.c., is prepared as above with 0-2 Gm. of HgI, and 2 Gm. of NaI.

Balsam of Fir Emulsion. J. T. Davidson. (Drugg. Circ., 51, 765.) A stock mixture is prepared from: Balsam of fir (Canada balsam), 1; Venice turpentine, 1; olive oil, 2. To prepare the emulsion, which forms a popular winter remedy for coughs, the following ingredients are emulsified Mixture of balsam of fir as above, 48 minims; oil of wintergreen, 30 minims; powdered gum acacia, 3 drachms; spirit of chloroform, 4 drachms; tartar emetic, grain; diluted hydrocyanic acid, 6 minims; simple syrup, 11⁄2 fl. oz.; water to make 8 fl. oz. The proportion of the balsam mixture may be varied to meet individual requirements.

Boissy's Pills. (Pharm. Zeit., 53, 132.) Scammony resin' powdered soap, powdered cascara bark, of each, 1 grain; podophyllin, extract of belladonna, of each grain. Mass for one pill.

Broth, Vegetable, Mery's, for Infantile Gastroenteritis and Diarrhoea. (L'Union Pharm., 49, 116.) Carrots 45; potatoes, 60; turnips, 15; dried peas, dried haricot beans, of each 6; water, 1,000. Simmer together for 4 hours, keeping up the quantity of water. Strain, make up to 1,000, and add a very little salt.