Syrupus Rhei. U. S., Br. Syrup of Rhubarb. Syr. Rhei. ++ Syrupus Rhei Aromaticus. Aromatic Syrup of Rhubarb, Spiced Syrup of Rhu
Related entry: Rhubarb - Coriander
Sirop de Rhubarbe, Fr.; Sirupus Rhei, P. G.; Rhabarbersirup, Rhabarbersaft, G.
"Fluidextract of Rhubarb, one hundred mils [or 3 fluidounces, 183 minims]; Spirit of Cinnamon, four mils [or 65 minims]; Potassium Carbonate, ten grammes [or 154 grains]; Water, fifty mils [os.1 fluidounce, 331 minims]; Syrup, of sufficient quantity, to make one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Mix the spirit of cinnamon with the fluidextract of rhubarb, and add the potassium carbonate previously dissolved in the water, and gradually add this mixture to enough syrup to make the product measure one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]." U. S.
"Rhubarb, in No. 20 powder, 70.0 grammes; Oil of Coriander, 0.5 millilitre; Refined Sugar, 840.0 grammes; Alcohol (90 per cent.), 280.0 millilitres; Distilled Water, sufficient to produce 1000.0 millilitres. Mix two hundred and seventy millilitres of the Alcohol with three times its volume of Distilled Water. Moisten the Rhubarb with seventy millilitres of this diluted alcohol and set aside for twenty-four hours in a closed vessel; pack in a percolator; pass the remainder of the diluted alcohol slowly through the moistened powder; evaporate the percolate to four hundred and seventy-five grammes; filter; dissolve the Refined Sugar in the filtrate by the aid of heat; cool; add the Oil of Coriander dissolved in ten millilitres of the Alcohol; mix, and finally add sufficient Distilled Water to produce the required volume." Br.
The Br. process is a troublesome and imperfect method.
The U. S. syrup differs from that official before 1890 in several particulars, and, in our opinion, it is greatly improved; the activity of the rhubarb and the corrigent effects of the cinnamon are both secured without impairing the appearance of the finished syrup, while the simplicity of the manipulation must commend the process to all. In the Br. Pharm. 1914 oil of coriander replaced coriander fruit official in the former pharmacopoeia.
The official syrup is a mild cathartic, adapted for use with infants, to which it may be given in the dose of a fluidrachm (3.75 mils).
Dose, for adults, two to three fluidrachms (7.5-11.25 mils).
Syrupus Rhei Aromaticus. U. S.
Aromatic Syrup of Rhubarb. Syr. Rhei Arom. [Spiced Syrup of Rhubarb].
Sirop de Rhubarbe aromatique, Fr.; Gewürzter Rhabarbersaft, G.
"Aromatic Tincture of Rhubarb, one hundred and fifty mils [or 5 fluidounces, 35 minims]; Potassium Carbonate, one gramme [or 15 grains]; Syrup, a sufficient quantity, to make one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Dissolve the potassium carbonate in the tincture and add this to sufficient syrup to make the product measure one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Mix thoroughly." U. S.
A small amount of alkali is added here to prevent the syrup from becoming turbid.
The aromatic syrup of rhubarb is a warm stomachic laxative, too feeble for adult cases, but well calculated for the bowel complaints of infants; which are so frequent in our cities during the summer season, and as a remedy for which this preparation, or one analogous to it, has been long in use, under the name of spiced syrup of rhubarb. The dose for an infant with diarrhea is a fluidrachm (3.75 mils), repeated every two hours until the passages indicate by their color that the medicine has operated. It should be borne in mind that the syrup, as prepared by the present formula, contains one-seventh of diluted alcohol, which, though not injurious in most cases in which this syrup is used, might render it too stimulating in some instances of diarrhea in the very young infant.
Dose, one to three fluidrachms (3.75-11.25 mils).
