I. To correct or disguise the flavour of disagreeable remedies. Syrup: Aurantiorum. L.D. (Form, 48, 51, 107.)—Limonum, L.E.D.—Simplex (124, 145).—Zingiberis (88, 95, 105.) Bitter infusions, and saline solutions are rendered more nauseous by the addition of syrups.
II. To produce Medicinal Effects. Syrup: Allii. D.—Altheæ. L.E. (135)—Acidi Acetosi. E.—Colchici. E.—Sennæ. E.D. (70)—Scillæ Maritimæ. E.—Rhamni. L. Papaveris. L.E.D. (5, 7, 75, 169, 170.)—Rosæ (74)—Zingiberis (47, 150)—Sarsaparillæ. L.
III. To communicate peculiar forms.
Every syrup answers this purpose; for the necessary proportions, see Electuaria.
IV. To communicate an agreeable colour. Syrup. Croci: L.—Rhæados. L.D. (166, 168.)—Caryophylli Rubri. D.—Violæ. E. Except that of Saffron, these syrups are rendered green by alkalies, and red by acids.
General Remarks. The practitioner should never introduce syrups into those medicines which are liable to be injured by the generation of acids: I have frequently seen the cretaceous mixture, when charged with syrup. Increase, instead of check, a diarrhœa; and the syrup of poppies, from its disposition to become acescent, will often aggravate rather than allay the cholic of infants. The syrup of Senna furnishes the practitioner with a convenient purgative for children; that of buckthorn is more violent, and is on that account but rarely used; besides which, in preparing it the chemist not unfrequently substitutes the berries of the Cornus Sanguinea, the Dogberry-tree, or those of the Rhamnus Frangula, the Alder-buckthorn, for the Rhamnus Catharticus; a circumstance which necessarily renders the efficacy of this syrup variable and uncertain; it is moreover often sophisticated with treacle and jalap. The syrup of the rose, when made with the leaves of the Damask[[656]] rose, is gently laxative, and is well adapted for weak children; it is however not unusual, coloris gratia, to substitute the leaves of the red rose, in which case the syrup will possess astringent instead of laxative properties. In the preparation of the syrup of poppies,[[657]] the directions of the College are frequently not obeyed; it is sometimes made by dissolving the extract in syrup, formed with coarse sugar, or even with treacle; at others, by adding tincture of opium to a coarse syrup, in the proportion of ♏︎x to every f℥j. In the preparation of the syrups of violets, the juice of red cabbage is generally substituted; this is at least a harmless fraud. Note. The syrups which are printed in Italics, are very susceptible of decomposition, and should be kept in cool places.
TABACI FOLIA. L.E.
(Nicotiana Tabacum. Folia Siccata. Virginiana.)
Nicotianæ Folia. D.
Tobacco.