CHAPTER IV PHARMACEUTIC PREPARATIONS, U. S. P. IX and N. F. IV CLASSIFICATION OF REMEDIAL SUBSTANCES AND PREPATIONS CLASSIFICATION may be based on utility, the choice, of course, depending upon the purpose intended. The following will serve as examples: Official or Pharmacopoeial (U. S. P.) substances are those agents described in the Pharmacopoeia. National Formulary, N. F., substances are those agents described in the National Formulary. In this connection it should be remembered that a preparation is any substance manufactured according to a recognized formula. Hence a Pharmacopoeial preparation is one that is prepared according to a formula that is outlined in the Pharmacopœia. Chemical preparations are those whose production requires chemical reaction. Galenical (galenic) preparations are those whose production does not require chemical reaction. They are so named in honor of the ancient Greek physician and philosophical writer, Galen (Claudius Galenus, born 130, died about 201 A. D.), who for many years was the supreme authority in medical sciences. According to the method of manufacture preparations may be extractive, prepared by some process of extraction, or nonextractive, prepared by solution or simple mixture. The classification may in some instances take its name from the specific method used in the preparation of its members, as, for example, infusions, prepared by infusion; decoctions, prepared by decoction; triturates, prepared by trituration, etc. According to their physical condition they may be solid, semisolid, semiliquid, or liquid, and, if liquid, they may be either solutions or mixtures. According to some relation in their composition they may be aqueous, alcoholic, ethereal, glycerinic, saccharine, etc. According to their method of application they may be employed externally, or for internal or systemic treatment. The student should construct examples of these and make as many other classifications as possible. TERMS USED IN DISCUSSING OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS Adjuvant.-A substance added to the principal remedial agent in a preparation to assist its action. Corrigent. A substance which favorably modifies the action of another drug which is too powerful or harsh. Vehicle. The carrier, diluent, or solvent in any preparation. Excipient. The substance which is added to a solid preparation, such as pills, to give them their proper consistency. Basis. The principal ingredient in any compound or preparation. Diluent. A substance, either liquid or solid, which is added to a medicinal preparation to increase its bulk. 85. Base. Same as Basis. Not to be confused with Base, page PHARMACEUTIC PREPARATIONS ACETA-VINEGARS Origin.-L. acetum, soured wine, vinegar. Number Official, 1; U. S. P. VIII, 2; N. F., 2. Definition.-Vinegars are solutions of the active principles of drugs in diluted acetic acid. Method of Preparation.-Maceration. Advantage of Class.-Acetic acid is a good solvent. It possesses antiseptic properties and can be obtained cheaply. Vinegars are uniform in strength, 10 per cent. Incompatibilities.-Vinegars have the incompatibilities of acid liquids; that is, they are incompatible with alkalies and alkali carbonates. Preservation.-Vinegars tend to deposit on long standing; hence they should be kept in tall bottles so that the clear liquid can be decanted as desired. Administration. They are administered either alone or in combination with other liquid remedies, usually largely diluted. ACETUM SCILLA-Vinegar of Squill-Acet. Scill. Prepared by macerating 10 gm. squill in No. 20 powder with 90 mils diluted acetic acid for seven days and straining; then heating the colate and washings to boiling to coagulate albuminous matter, and filtering while hot; and when cold adding sufficient diluted acetic acid to make 100 mils. An ingredient in syrup of squill, 45 m/m. ACETUM OPII, N. F. (U. S. P. VIII)—Vinegar of OpiumBlack Drop Made from opium, 10 gm.; myristica, No. 30., 3 gm.; sugar, 20 gm.; diluted acetic acid, q. s. to make 100 mils. Contains no narcotine, hence is less nauseating than other preparations of opium. Sedative. Dose, 0.5 mil. AQUA-WATERS Origin.-L. aqua, water. Pharmacopoeial, 19; U. S. P. VIII, 19; N. F., 1. The Pharmacopoeial waters may be divided into two classes: I. Non-medicated Waters. 1. Aqua. 2. Aqua Destillata. 3. Aqua Destillata Sterilisata. II. Medicated Waters, 16 Pharmacopoeial. The medicated waters may be divided into two groups: Definition. Medicated waters are solutions of volatile substances in distilled water. Aromatic waters are solutions of the aromatic principles of plants (volatile oils) in freshly distilled water. Methods of Preparation: I. Simple Solution. 1. Aqua Ammoniæ. 2. Aqua Ammonia Fortior. 3. Aqua Amygdala Amaræ. II. Distillation. 5. Aqua Chloroformi. 6. Aqua Creosoti. 7. Aqua Rosa. 1. Aqua Aurantii Florum Fortior. 3. Aqua Rosæ Fortior. III. Filtration through absorbent powder. 1. Aqua Anisi. 4. Aqua Foeniculi. 2. Aqua Camphora. 3. Aqua Cinnamomi. 5. Aqua Mentha Piperitæ. 6. Aqua Mentha Viridis. The aromatic waters are usually prepared by this process, and the U. S. P. gives the following general process for their preparation: Volatile Oil, 2 mils. Purified Talc, Distilled Water, recently boiled, 15 gm. 1000 mils. Triturate the volatile oil with the purified talc, add the recently boiled distilled water gradually with constant trituration, filter, and pass the filtrate through the filter repeatedly until the aromatic water is perfectly clear. If preferred, the solution of the volatile oil may be made by replacing the purified talc by purified siliceous earth, or by pulped filter-paper; or a solution of the volatile oil may be prepared with recently boiled distilled water by direct addition and filtration, after shaking. Aromatic waters may also be made by the distillation of a mixture of the drug or volatile oil with water. In each case the method used must yield a finished product which meets the official requirements and corresponds with that obtained by the general process. On exposure to light and air it gradually becomes resinified and acquires an acid reaction. Preserve in well-closed containers, protected from light. Boils between 160° and 172° C. Colorless, thin liquid; sp. gv., 0.860 to 0.865; agreeable, thyme-like odor; aromatic, somewhat terebinthinate taste. Neutral in reaction. Slightly soluble in water; soluble in 3 mils of alcohol. Obtained by acting upon oil of turpentine with concentrated sulphuric acid until it becomes optically inactive, separating the oily liquid, neutralizing it by treatment with caustic soda, and finally distilling it with steam. Expectorant. Diuretic. Dose, 0.25 mil. TERPINI HYDRAS-Terpin Hydrate-Terpin. Hyd. The hydrate, C10H18(OH)2 + H2O (190.18), of the dihydric alcohol terpin. Slowly volatile. Efflorescent in dry air. Preserve in wellclosed containers, in a cool place. Colorless, lustrous, rhombic prisms; nearly odorless; slightly aromatic and somewhat bitter taste. Neutral to litmus. 13 mils of alcohol. Soluble in about 200 mils of water and in Obtained by the action of nitric acid upon an alcoholic solution of oil of turpentine; after several days the crystals which have formed are separated and purified by recrystallization from 90 per cent. alcohol which has been rendered slightly alkaline. Expectorant. Diuretic. Dose, 250 mg. THEOBROMINE SODIO-SALICYLAS (IX)-Theobromine Sodio-Salicylate-Theobrom. Sodio-Sal.-Diuretin A mixture of sodium theobromine, C7H7O2N4Na (202.10), and sodium salicylate, C7H5O3Na (160.04), in approximately molecular proportions. The average yield of theobromine from theobroma is 1 to 2.5 per cent.; from the "shells" or seed coats, 0.5 to 4.5 per cent. Contains, when dried to constant weight over sulphuric acid, not less than 46.5 per cent. of theobromine. Gradually absorbs carbon dioxide with the liberation of theo |