Infusum Rosae Compositum. Lond. Dub. Compound Infusion of Roses

"Take of the dried red rose, three drachms; diluted sulphuric acid, a fluid drachm and a half (three drachms by weight. Dub.); boiling distilled water, a pint (three pounds by measure, Dub.); sugar, six drachms. Pour the water on the rose petals in a covered glass vessel, and mix in the acid. Macerate for half an hour. Finally, strain the liquor, and add the sugar."

Infusum ROSAe Gallicae, Edin. Infusion of Red Roses.

"Take of the dried petals of the red rose, one ounce; boiling water, two pounds and a half; sulphuric acid, diluted, half an ounce; refined sugar, one ounce. Macerate the petals with water in an earthern vessel, which has not been glazed with lead for four hours; then pour in the acid, strain the liquor, and add the sugar."

Syn. Infusion de Roses (F.), Rosen aufguss (G.), Infuso di Rose (I.).

This infusion is clear, of a beautiful red colour, and has an acid, pleasant, austere taste.1 The addition of the sugar prevents it from keeping so long as it might otherwise be kept. The incompatible substances are those which are decomposed by the sulphuric acid. The sulphates of iron strike a blue black, and sulphate of zinc, although it does not immediately alter the infusion, yet slowly produces a dark-coloured pre--cipitate after some hours.

Medical properties and uses. - Infusion of roses is indebted for any astringency it possesses chiefly to a small portion of gallic acid which it contains. It is used in the colliquative sweats of phthisis; and as a gargle in cynanche tonsillaris; but it is chiefly employed as an elegant vehicle for more active remedies, particularly sulphate of magnesia, the nauseous taste of which it completely covers. The dose is from f ij, to f iv.

1 Dr. Clarke, of Cambridge, supposed that he had detected iron in the petals of the rose.

Infusum Scoparii. Lond. Infusion of Broom

"Take of broom, an ounce; boiling distilled water, a pint. Macerate for two hours, in a lightly-covered vessel, and strain."

A useful diuretic vehicle for other diuretics. It sometimes purges, in which case it ceases to be diuretic. The dose is f j. to f iv.

Infusum Sarsaparillae Compositum. Dub. Compound Infusion of Sarsaparilla

" Take of the root of sarsaparilla, first softened in cold water, and then cut, one ounce; lime-water, one pint. Macerate for twelve hours in a close vessel, frequently agitating; then strain."

The active principle of sarsaparilla is soluble in cold water; and on this account, the operose preparations of the decoction may be dispensed with. The use of the lime-water is not satisfactorily explained.

Medical properties and, uses. - This infusion possesses all the properties of the decoction. It allays that morbid irritability of habit which remains after a course of mercury; thence it aids the restoration to general health. It is incompatible with sulphates, the salts of lead, and vegetable astringents.