This section is from the book "Practical Materia Medica And Prescription Writing", by Oscar W. Bethea. Also available from Amazon: Practical Materia Medica and Prescription Writing.
Latin, Saccharum (Gen., Sacchari)
Eng., Sugar. Synonyms, Cane Sugar, Granulated Sugar, Sucrose.
White, dry, hard, distinctly crystalline granules or crystalline powder.
Odorless. A purely sweet taste.
In 0.5 part of water or 170 parts of alcohol.
Eng., Syrup. Synonym, Simple Syrup. Sugar, 850 Gm.; Distilled Water, to make 1000 mils.
Sugar is a constituent of all syrups and many other officinal preparations. Sugar as such is often prescribed to give bulk and sweet taste to powders and in solution to disguise unpleasant tastes and also to render liquids thicker so that soluble matter will remain longer in suspension when the mixture is agitated. The flavored syrups, as Syrup of Orange, etc., are more frequently employed.
 
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