Volume 1

Companion to the latest edition of the British pharmacopoeia : comparing the strength of the various preparations with those of the United States and other foreign pharmacopoeias to which are added not official preparations and practical hints on prescribing / by Peter Squire.

  • Squire, Peter.
Date:
1890-
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Companion to the latest edition of the British pharmacopoeia : comparing the strength of the various preparations with those of the United States and other foreign pharmacopoeias to which are added not official preparations and practical hints on prescribing / by Peter Squire. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    48/670 (page 2)
    ACACIiE GTJMMX. GUM ACACIA. A gummy exudation from the stem and branches of Acacia Senegal, and from other species of Acacia, collected chiefly in Kordofan in Africa, and imported from Alexandria. In spheroidal tears, opaque from numerous cracks, nearly white. We have taken the sp. g. of several samples of good white Gum Acacia, and find that it varies very little from 1-5. It consists chiefly of Calcium Arabate, containing also Potassium and Magnesium; it contains 12 to 17 per cent, of Water, and yields 2*7 to 4 per cent, of Ash. Its aqueous solution reddens blue litmus paper. Solubility.—1 in 1 of Water. Insoluble in Alcohol, Ether, and Oils. Test.—Powder of Gum should be white and free from Starch, and therefore a solution made with boiling Water and cooled should not be rendered blue or violet by an aqueous solution of Iodine. The presence of Saccharine substances can be detected, after inversion, by Fehling's solution. Adulteration with dextrin can be detected by the use of Perric Chlo- ride and. Alcohol. For process see Allen']s Commercial Organic Analysis. (Austr., Belg., Dan., Dutch, Fr., Ger., Hung., Norw., Port., Buss., Span., Swed., Swiss, and U.S.) Medicinal Properties.—Emollient, nutritive. Allowed to dis- solve slowly in the mouth, allays tickling cough. For a demulcent drink, 1 of Mucilage, 1 of Syrup, and 20 of Water. Dose.—Ad libitum. Used in the preparation of Mistura Cretae, Mistura Guaiaci, Pulvis Amygdalae Compositus, Pulvis Tragacanthae Compositus, and all Trochisci. Preparations. MUCILAGO ACACIjE. Faintly coloured, slightly opaque. Gum Acacia, in small pieces, 40; Distilled Water, 60: put these into a covered jar and stir frequently until the gum is dissolved. =(1 and 1£). The product measures only 87, therefore 4 of Gum are contained in 8f measures of Mucilage. Sp. g. 1*160 to 1*170. Mucilage keeps well if made cold, then poured into small bottles quite full, and stored in a cool place. Dose.—1 to 4 dims. (Dutch and Port., 2 and 3 ; Fr., 1 and 1; Austr., Dan., Ger., Hung., Norw., Puss., Swed., and Swiss, 1 and 2; Span., 1 and 3; Belg., 1 and 4—also M Spissa, 1 and 2—and M. Levis, 1 and 9 ; U.S. 34 and 66.) Incompatibles.—Alcohol and Sulphuric Acid; Borax, Persalts of Iron, and Subacetate of Lead render it gelatinous. It is not affected hy neutral Acetate of Lead. Squibh has found that solution of the Gum is facilitated by using it in the form of a coarse powder, not larger than No. 50, nor smaller thau No. 80 sieve, free from tine powder.—Squibb's Ephemeris, March, 1883, p. 252. German and Uniied States Pharmacopoeias direct that the Gum should be washed with cold Water, before being dissolved. Mucilage, if kept carelessly only a week in hot weather, becomes sour, and its emulsive property is impaired ; if made with hot Water the change is more rapid.