The term mixture in pharmaceutical language denotes a mingled compound, in which different ingredients are held suspended in a fluid medium by means of mucilaginous or of saccharine matter. The London College has placed under this title those medicines, also, which consist of the fixed oil of seeds diffused through water by means of the mucilage, fecula, or saccharine matter of the seeds, and which are denominated emulsions. Both these kinds of preparations should always be extemporaneous; and in prescribing them attention is required not to bring together incompatible substances, nor to order in mixtures insoluble matters of a specific gravity too great to be suspended, in the fluid vehicle, by the ordinary means.

Mistura Camphorae. Lond. Mixture of Camphor

"Take of camphor, half a drachm; rectified spirit, ten minims; water, a pint. Rub the camphor first with the spirit, then add the water gradually, and strain through linen."

Dublin.

"Take of camphor, a scruple; rectified spirit of wine, ten drops; refined sugar, half an ounce; water, a pint. Rub the camphor first with the spirit, and then with the sugar; add the water during the trituration, and strain the mixture through linen.

Mistura Camphorae cum Magnesia, Dub. Mixture of Camphor with Magnesia.

"Take of camphor, twelve grains; carbonate of magnesia, half a drachm; water, six ounces. Rub the camphor with the magnesia: add the water gradually, and mix."

Syn. Mixture Camphre (F.), Kampfermixtur (G.),Mistura Canforata (I.).

A pint of water takes up less than one half the quantity of camphor ordered by the London College: but the camphor communicates both odour and taste to the water in a considerable degree: it is rendered more soluble by the magnesia. Solution of pure potassa separates the camphor. Camphor mixture is an elegant vehicle for more active remedies in low fevers and nervous affections; but cannot be regarded as acting on the habit from the quantity of camphor it contains. The dose is from f j. to f ij., given every three or four hours.

Emulsio Camphorae, Edin. Camphor Emulsion.

"Take of camphor, a scruple; sweet almonds, blanched, refined sugar, each half an ounce; water, a pint and a half. It is to be made in the same manner as the common almond emulsion."

In this preparation the whole of the camphor is diffused through the mixture; the medicinal powers of which are consequently more considerable than those of the foregoing preparation. It is less apt to excite nausea and uneasiness at the stomach than camphor in powder, and is given with advantage in typhus and nervous cases, in doses of f ij. every three or four hours. Its preparation should always be extemporaneous, as the camphor separates and swims on the surface of the mixture after a few days.