BOARD QUESTIONS ANSWERED A MINNESOTA EXAMINATION. PHARMACY. 1. What are Seidlitz powders composed of, how are they put up, and which ingredient is wrapped in the white paper? Seidlitz powders (compound effervescing powder, U. S. P.) are made by dividing into 12 equal parts an intimate mixture of 31 grammes of dried and finely powdered sodium bicarbonate with 93 grammes of dried and finely powdered potassium and sodium tartrate. Each of the 12 parts is then wrapped in a separate blue paper. The other portion of the Seidlitz powder is made by dividing into 12 equal parts 27 grammes of dried and finely powdered tartaric acid and then wrapping each of the 12 parts in a separate white paper. One set of the two powders (a blue and a white) constitutes a "Seidlitz Powder." 2. (a) If a customer wanted to take a Seidlitz powder, how would you mix it? (b) What happens when the two solutions are mixed. (a) By dissolving the smaller powder in a fluidounce or more of water and the larger in twice or three times the quantity and then mixing the two solutions. The customer should drink the mixture before it has ceased to effer vesce. (b) A reaction takes place between the tartaric acid and the sodium bicarbonate, by which sodium tartrate is produced, adding somewhat to the laxative property of the draught, and carbon dioxide escapes, causing a brisk effervescence. The acid is in slight excess, and thus causes an agreeable acidity in the solution. 3. Describe the process of percolation, giving the reasons for each step in the process. In the process of percolation the first step is to place the ground drug (which should be of the degree of fineness directed by the formula) in a basin and moisten it uniformly with the specified quantity of menstruum. The same degree of fineness throughout the powder is essential for the reason that the menstruum must be able to act uniformly on all parts of the powder. The degree of fineness is also essential because with too coarse a powder the medicinal ingredients might not all be ex tracted, and with too fine a powder there is a likelihood of "clogging." Moistening the drug prepares the constituents for ready solution and establishes an affinity between the cellular contents of the drug and the fresh menstruum, enabling the latter to permeate the cells by osmotic action. If the menstruum were to be brought in contact with the dry powder, absorption of the menstruum would take place very slowly or would be interfered with entirely. The moistened powder, after having been first passed through a sieve to break up any lumps, should be transferred to a suitable percolator (having in the lower opening a piece of moistened cotton) all at one time, and then shaken down by tapping the sides of the vessel. The moistened powder is then allowed to renain in that condition for a period varying from 15 minutes to several hours, unless otherwise directed; after which the powder is pressed by the aid of a plunger of suitable dimensions, more or less firmly in proportion to the character of the powdered substance and the alcoholic strength of the menstruum. The smaller end of the percolator should be fitted with a perforated cork-stopper bearing a short glass tube extending from 3 to 4 cm. beyond the outer surface of the cork. The glass tube should be provided with a closely fitting rubber tube, at least one-fourth longer than the percolator itself, and ending in another short glass tube, whereby the rubber tube may be so suspended that its orifice shall be above the surface of the menstruum in the percolator. The percolator is then placed in position for percolation, the rubber tube (for regulating the flow of the percolate) is fastened at a suitable height, the surface of the powder is covered by an accurately fitting disk of filtering paper or other suitable material, and a sufficient quantity of the menstruum poured on through a funnel reaching nearly to the surface of the paper. If these conditions are accurately observed, the menstruum will percolate the powder equally until it passes into the rubber tube, and reaches in this a height corresponding to its level in the percolator, which is now closely covered to prevent evaporation. The apparatus is then allowed to stand at rest for the time specified in the formula. To begin percolation the rubber tube is lowered and its glass end introduced into the neck of a bottle previously marked for the quantity of liquid to be received, if the percolate is to be measured; or of a tared bottle, if the percolate is to be weighed. By raising or lowering this recipient the rapidity of percolation may be increased or lessened, as desired. A layer of menstruum must constantly be maintained above the powder, so as to prevent the access of air to its interstices, until all has been added or the requisite quantity of percolate has been obtained. The success of the process of percolation largely depends upon the regulation of the flow of the percolate. If this should be too rapid, incomplete exhaustion will result; if too slow, valuable time may be wasted. The rate of flow for extracts and fluidextracts for 1000 grammes of powder should range from 2 to 5 drops a minute; for official quantities of tinctures and preparations of about the same strength from 8 to 15 drops a minute. The proper rate of flow varies, of course, with the quantity and character of the drug employed and the density of the menstruum. 4. In the extemporaneous preparation of chalk mixture, would you use a mortar? Why? A mortar should be used, as directed by the Pharmacopoeia, for the reason that in no other way can a smooth and evenly suspended mixture be obtained. 5. (a) What is a solution? (b) What is a saturated solution? (a) A solution may be defined as the blending together of the molecules of two bodies to form a homogeneous liquid. (b) When all of a body is dissolved that is capable of dissolving at a certain temperature the solution is called saturated. A solution which is saturated at one temperature, however, will be either supersaturated or subsaturated at all other temperatures. In pharmacy the temperature which has been adopted for saturated solutions is 15° C. (59.6° F.), because the temperature of living-rooms where solutions are supposed to be kept or used is rarely below this point, and at all higher temperatures the solutions (with a few exceptions) will be subsaturated. 6. (a) What two kinds of solutions are there? (b) Give examples of each kind. (a) Simple and compound. (b) When potassium iodide is dissolved in water the result is a simple solution. When red iodide of mercury is dissolved in water by means of the addition of potassium iodide the result is a compound solution. 7. What are infusions? The process of infusion is understood to represent the solvent action of boiling water on vegetable drugs during the time occupied in cooling; it may be varied, as to a longer or shorter period of time, according to the degree of extractability of the principles to be dissolved, and should always be conducted in closed vessels. 8. In making infusions should the substances be boiled? No, for boiling is likely to destroy volatile principles or principles easily injured by heat. 9. Give ingredients and method for making infusion of digitalis. To make 1000 Cc. of infusion of digitalis proceed as follows: Upon 15 grammes of digitalis (bruised), contained in a suitable vessel, pour 500 Cc. of boiling water, and allow it to macerate for an hour. Then strain, add 100 Cc. of alcohol and 150 Cc. of cinnamon water to the strained liquid, and pass enough cold water through the residue on the strainer to make the product measure 1000 Cc. Mix well. 10. Should infusions be made from fluidextracts? No. Quite different principles are extracted from drugs by water than those which are obtained by alcoholic liquids. In infusions the water-soluble principles are desired, and a diluted fluidextract is never a proper substitute. 11. What is the official Latin name for each of the following: (a) spirit of nitrous ether, (b) oil of orange, (c) peppermint water, (d) solution of magnesium citrate, (e) salol. (a) Spiritus Aetheris Nitrosi. 12. What is the best solvent for each of the following: (a) boric acid, (b) potassium iodide, (c) camphor, (d) gum benzoin, (e) chloral hydrate? (a) Glycerin. (b) Water. (c) Alcohol. (d) Alcohol. (e) Water. (To be continued.) LETTERS A DRUG MAN'S VACATION. To the Editors: I have just finished a delightful outing on beautiful Santa Catalina Island, California. This is a great place for anglers, from April to November. Santa Catalina is reached after a two hours' run from Los Angeles. The boatmen are all expert and have ample tackle and bait. A man can try for almost any kind of fish his fancy dictates. While I was there, during a single day three varieties of business career I was induced, together with a young lawyer friend of mine, to buy some shares in a western mine. We invested $1300 apiece, which was the extent of my capital at that time; and then we sat back contented, with a smile on our faces, to await the out come. We expected to see the stocks take a skyward jump and we watched the market eagerly every day. But the quotations were always the same, not varying a single point in days. After a month had elapsed we received a letter which stated that we would have to forward $200 more in order to stay in the game. As I did not have that amount on hand, I hustled about to find the necessary cash, which I did, at a bank in a neighboring town. Once more we sat back to await the outcome. But this time we were not so confident. The smile was gone. Day after day we watched the marketuntil at last our curiosity was rewarded. We received another letter, this time to the effect that our company had failed and we were minus all we had put in. Our broker extended his sympathy, wishing us better luck next time. He hoped we would place other investments with him! Did we? Let the swallows answer. New York. LOUIS ENGEL. WHAT IS IT? |