Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/210

184&#93; 184] TAG for various medicines ; forming a sweet liquor, of a thick con- sistence, which is made by com- bining saccharine matter with water, vinegar, or the juices of vegetables. Syrups were formerly considered as medicines of considerable effi- cacy; but, at present, they are used chiefly for sheathing, or con- cealing the taste of nauseous sub- stances ; yet, as there are certain drugs, which are peculiarly ser- viceable in this form, we shall give a few directions for preparing them: Tlrst, the vessels employed ought to be well tinned, and kept per- fe&]y clean, lest any impure mat- ters be introduced : the sugar should be doubly refined, and dis- solved in a water-bath, in the pro- portion of 29 oz. to one pint of water, or any other liquid : the whole is then suffered to stand for 24 hours, when the scum must be removed, the syrup be strained, and poured into a vessel, where it remains till the following day. If any saccharine crust then ap- pear, it ought to be taken off the surface, and the liquor will be fit for use. Syrup oj Vinegar: — Let 1 pints of vinegar be boiled with 3|lbs. of double-refined sugar, till TAG a syrap be formed. This solutioa is very pleasant ; is often employed in mucilaginous mixtures ; and^, from its cheapness, is far preferable to the syrup of lemons. Emetic Syrup consists of two drams of finely pulverized glass of antimony, and 12 oz. of Rhenish- wine : these ingredients must be digested in a gentle heat for three days, when the liquor ought to be strained through paper, mixed with double-refined sugar, and made into a syrup in the usual manner. This preparation is strongly im- pregnated with the emetic pro- perties of the antimony, and is peculiarly calculated for children, on account of its agreeable taste. Syrup of Lemon-juice : — Let five parts of double-refined sugar, and three parts of filtred lemon-juice be incorporated, so as to form a syrup. The juices of mulberries, raspberries', and black currants, may be converted into syrup in a similar manner : they are all cooling, pleasant liquids, and may be advantageously employed for mitigating thirst in bilious, or in- flammatory disorders j and also ftw gargling the fauces, in cases of inflammation of the mouth an4 tonsils. T- TAC AM AH ACA, a gummy-re- si nous substance, obtained from the Carolina Poplak. The best sort is coUeded from the fruit of the tree, in gourd-shells : it is somewhat soft and un6tuous, of a pale-green, or yellowish colour, and a fragrant odour, resembling that of amber- grease, or lavender. The drug commonly met with, in the shops, consists of variegated seiYii-tran- sparent grains, procured from the sap exuding through incisions made in the poplar ; and which are greatly- inferior to the genuine species. Tacamahaca is chiefly employed cxtcr*