On Emulsion of Almonds.
By H. P. REYNOLDS.
The officinal emulsion of the U. S. P. forms an elegant and suitable vehicle for the administration of many pungent or acrid medicines, but no apothecary cares to spend time for its extempore preparation, and of course it cannot be kept on hand on account of the readiness with which it ferments.
Experimenting recently, by request of a physician, for a satisfactory vehicle for chloral hydrate, I found the emulsion of almonds peculiarly adapted to the purpose, both by reason of its agreeable taste and its thick consistency almost completely obscuring the pungency of the drug. Chloral is now so largely administered in that class of diseases accompanied by an irritated and sensitive condition of the mouth and throat that this seemed a point gained. And it may not be amiss to state here that syrupus acaciae slightly flavored with orange-flower water and essential oil of almonds is a very agreeable vehicle for the chloral.
Finding I should be called upon to provide the emulsion for this purpose it became desirable to have it on hand in a convenient and permanent form. I therefore contrived a preparation which I call a "Concentrated Emulsion of Almonds," and which is prepared as follows:
| Rx | Sweet Almonds, (blanched) | |
| Sugar, | ||
| Glycerin, ("C. P.") | each one ounce. | |
| Powd. Gum Arabic, | one drachm. | |
| Water, | two ounces. |
Rub to a uniform paste, strain through muslin and evaporate by a heat not exceeding 150° F., to the consistency of a fresh solid extract. Preserve in wide mouth bottles of size for convenient use. It may be flavored to suit; I have preferred orange flower water and oil of almonds. When emulsion of almonds is prescribed it is readily prepared as follows:
| Rx | Concentrated Emulsion, | two drachms. |
| Water, | sufficient to make one ounce of mixture. | |
| Mix thoroughly. | ||
It immediately assumes the milky hue and consistence of the officinal article, and cannot be distinguished from it, while it keeps without change and without drying. The idea may not be new to all your readers, but certainly is original so far as I am concerned, and I shall be happy if the suggestion proves useful to any of them, as it can hardly fail to do.
Plainfield, N. J., Dec. 28th, 1870.
