Lloyd - Elixir & Flavoring Extracts Formulae - Soil and Health Library

title “National Formulary " (1888), is now the most complete
authoritative treatise on elixirs. In this edition of our work we have
made the proportions of the drug ingredients conform to those of that
publication for such elixirs as are common to both. We will add that
the “National Formulary” should be in the hands of every pharmacist.
Compound elixirs have now multiplied until their number is
such as to be burdensome. The problem regarding proportion of
ingredients was one that early commanded our attention, and which
we endeavored to systematize, in the absence of authority, so as to
conform, if possible, to some general rule. The necessity for some such
action may be illustrated as follows:
Elixir of phosphate of quinine contains one grain of quinine
in each fluidrachm.
Elixir of pyrophosphate of iron contains two grains of
pyrophosphate of iron in each fluidrachm.
What shall be the proportion of phosphate of quinine and of
pyrophosphate of iron in each fluidrachm of elixir of phosphate of
quinine and pyrophosphate of iron? Again,
Elixir of phosphate of quinine contains one grain of quinine
in each fluidrachm.
Elixir of phosphate of cinchonidine contains one grain of
cinchonidine in each fluidrachm.
Elixir of phosphate of cinchonine contains two grains of
cinchonine in each fluidrachm.
What shall be the proportion of the several ingredients in the
elixir of phosphate of quinine, cinchonidine, and cinchonine ?
If each fluidrachm of this last elixir contains the amount of
each ingredient which is present in the same amount of the simple
elixir of that substance, we will have four grains of the combined
alkaloids, an unreasonable quantity for a preparation of the character of
an elixir.
In consequence of examples similar to those above named,
and which demanded some regular plan of procedure, if such could be
devised, we have for many years attempted to systematize the matter,
and our efforts have met with some success. In making compound
elixirs, where it was possible, we have represented in each fluidrachm
the aggregate amount of alkaloids which would be present were the
several elixirs mixed together in equal quantities. We believe that, as a
rule, under the conditions which confront us in the problem of
compound elixirs, physicians desire the associated action of smaller
amounts of the several ingredients rather than the full dose of each. It