Solution (source code)

= Solution

\b[The compositions must be specified ingredient by ingredient; the two alkaloidal solutions contain 4 grains per nominal fluid ounce, but one contains a <morphine> salt and the other <strychnine>.]

<Pulvis Jalapae Compositus> contains powdered <jalap> 5 <avoirdupois ounces>, <potassium hydrogen tartrate> 9 <avoirdupois ounces>, and powdered <ginger> 1 <avoirdupois ounce>. Thus the <mass> proportions are \b[5:9:1], and <jalap> supplies one third of the powder's <mass>. This is a compound <purgative>, not pure <jalap resin>. <The Essentials of Materia Medica and Therapeutics by Alfred Baring Garrod (1865)>[Convolvulaceae, Jalapa, compound powder]{ref}

<Pilula Scillae Composita> contains powdered <squill> 1¼ <avoirdupois ounces>, powdered <ginger>, <ammoniacum> and hard <soap> 1 <avoirdupois ounce> each, with <treacle> 2 <avoirdupois ounces>, or sufficient to make a pill mass. Using the specified 2 <avoirdupois ounces> of <treacle>, the whole is 6¼ <avoirdupois ounces> and contains \b[one fifth <squill> by mass]. The allowance of sufficient <treacle> makes consistency a compounding requirement, not a claim that every moist pill batch has an analytically exact 20% <squill> content. <The Essentials of Materia Medica and Therapeutics by Alfred Baring Garrod (1865)>[Liliaceae, British compound squill pill, distinguished from bracketed American formula]{ref}

<Liquor Morphiae Hydrochloratis> contains <morphine hydrochloride> 4 <grains>, dilute <hydrochloric acid> 8 <minims>, <rectified spirit> 2 <fluid drachms> and <distilled water> 6 <fluid drachms>. Its conventional strength is \b[½ grain of <morphine hydrochloride> per fluid drachm], not ½ <grain> of free <morphine>. The small quantity of <hydrochloric acid> maintains an acid solution. <The Essentials of Materia Medica and Therapeutics by Alfred Baring Garrod (1865)>[Papaverceae, part 3, Liquor Morphiae Hydrochloratis]{ref}

<Liquor Strychniae> contains <strychnine> 4 <grains>, dilute <hydrochloric acid> 6 <minims>, <rectified spirit> 2 <fluid drachms> and <distilled water> 6 <fluid drachms>. Dissolve the <strychnine> in the acid mixed with part of the <water>, using the prescribed assistance of heat, then add the spirit and remaining <water>. Its conventional strength is \b[½ grain of <strychnine> per fluid drachm]. Acid promotes <solubility> by forming a soluble <salt> of the <alkaloid>. <The Essentials of Materia Medica and Therapeutics by Alfred Baring Garrod (1865)>[Loganiaceae, Liquor Strychniae]{ref}

For the last two solutions, the stated historical strengths use the nominal 8 <fluid drachms> of spirit and <water>. The extra few <minims> of dilute acid must still appear in the actual recipe; treating all ingredient <volumes> as perfectly additive would not give an exact modern analytical <concentration>.