Syrupus Tolutanus. U. S., Br. Syrup of Tolu. Syr. Tolu.
Related entry: Balsam of Tolu
Sirop de Baume de Tolu, Fr. Cod.; Sirop balsamique, Fr.; Tolubalsamsirup, G.; Jarabe de balsamo de Tolu, Sp.
"Tincture of Tolu, fifty mils [or 1 fluid-ounce, 331 minims]; Magnesium Carbonate, ten grammes [or 154 grains]; Sugar, eight hundred and twenty grammes [or 28 ounces av., 405 grains]; Water, a sufficient quantity, to make one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Rub the tincture of tolu in a mortar with the magnesium carbonate and sixty grammes [or 2 ounces av., 51 grains] of the sugar. Then gradually add four hundred and thirty mils [or 14 fluidounces, 259 minims] of water, with constant trituration, and filter. Dissolve the remainder of the sugar in the clear filtrate, with the aid of a gentle heat, strain the syrup while hot, and add sufficient water to make the product measure one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6½ fluidrachms]. Syrup of tolu may also be made in the following manner: Prepare a percolator in the manner described under Syrupus. Pour the filtrate obtained as directed in the preceding formula upon the remainder of the sugar, return the first portions of the percolate until it runs through clear, and, when all of the liquid has passed, follow it with water, until all of the sugar is dissolved and the product measures one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Mix thoroughly." U. S.
"Balsam of Tolu, 25 grammes; Refined Sugar, 660 grammes; Distilled Water, sufficient to produce 1000 grammes. Add four hundred grammes of the Distilled Water, boiling, to the Balsam of Tolu; cover lightly and heat on a water-bath for half an hour, stirring frequently. Remove; add Distilled Water, if necessary, so that the liquid, when cold, measures four hundred millilitres. Filter the solution, add the Refined Sugar, dissolve by the aid of a water-bath, and finally add sufficient Distilled Water to produce the required weight." Br.
The U. S., 1890, process for this syrup was more satisfactory than that formerly official. It was practically a return to the U. S., 1870, method (based on Finley's process, substituting precipitated calcium phosphate for magnesium carbonate, and using a freshly made strong tincture for the official tincture of tolu.
The U. S. Pharmacopoeia VIII and IX process reintroduced magnesium carbonate with much advantage, and has the further improvement of using the official tincture of tolu instead of making the latter from the balsam by a special process. In the British process the soluble principles of the balsam are extracted by boiling it with water, but with great waste of the material, as the water dissolves but a small portion of the active matter. To obviate this waste, the same portion of balsam is, according to Brande, usually employed in successive operations, and it long continues to impart odor and taste to boiling water. W. H. Hostelley's modification is as follows: For making twenty-five ounces of syrup, take one ounce of balsam of tolu, one pound of granulated sugar, and water which has been previously filtered through animal charcoal, enough to make twenty-five ounces; rub the tolu to a fine powder, aided by some of the sugar, and mix this with the remainder of the granulated sugar; now prepare a percolator by placing a piece of cotton in the neck, pack the powder in it, pour in the filtered water, and receive twenty-five ounces of percolate. (A. J. P., 1887, p. 290.) Syrup of tolu is used chiefly to impart its agreeable flavor to mixtures. If a stronger preparation is desired, tincture of tolu may be added in the desired quantity, directing the bottle to be shaken.
Dose, one to four fluidrachms (3.75-15.0 mils).
