Syrupus Scillae. Syrup of Squill. Syrupus Scillae Compositus. Compound Syrup of Squill, Hive Syrup.

Syrupus Scillae. U. S., Br.

Syrup of Squill. Syr. Scill.

Related entry: Syrup of Urginea - Squill

Syrupus Aceti Scillae; Sirop de Scille, Fr.; Meerzwiebel-sirup, G.

"Vinegar of Squill, four hundred and fifty mils [or 15 fluidounces, 104 minims]; Sugar, eight hundred grammes [or 28, ounces av., 96 grains]; Water, a sufficient quantity, to make one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar of squill with the aid of a gentle heat, then strain the syrup and, when the liquid is cold, add enough water, through the strainer, to make the product measure one thousand mils [or 33 fluidounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Mix thoroughly." U. S.

"Vinegar of Squill, 175 millilitres; Refined Sugar, 650 grammes; Distilled Water, sufficient to produce 1000 grammes. Mix the Vinegar of Squill with an equal volume of Distilled Water. In the mixture dissolve the Refined Sugar by the aid of gentle heat; add sufficient Distilled Water to produce the required weight." Br.

The present British formula is. almost identical with U. S. IX, and differs from that of 1864 in taking the vinegar already formed, instead of preparing it as the first step of the process. Vinegar of Squill of the Br. Pharm. 1914 is double the strength of that formerly official. The heating should be performed as quickly as possible, to prevent undue loss of acetic acid.

This syrup is much employed as an expectorant, especially in combination with a solution of tartarized antimony. It is incompatible with ammonium carbonate, but not with ammonium chloride.

Dose, about a fluidrachm (3.75 mils).


Syrupus Scillae Compositus. U. S.

Compound Syrup of Squill. Syr. Scill. Co. [Hive Syrup].

Related entry: Fluidextract of Squill - Fluidextract of Senega

Coxe's Hive Syrup; Sirop de Scille compose, Fr.; Zusammengesetzter Meerzwiebelsirup, G.

"Fluidextract of Squill, eighty mils [or 2 fluidounces, 338 minims]; Fluidextract of Senega, eighty mils [or 2 fluidounces, 338 minims]; Antimony and Potassium Tartrate, two grammes [or 31 grains]; Distilled Water, ten mils [or 162 minims] Syrup, a sufficient quantity, to make one thousand mils [or 33 fluid-ounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]. Dissolve the antimony and potassium tartrate in the distilled water with the aid of heat, add this solution to seven hundred and fifty mils [or 25 fluidounces, 173 minims] of syrup and mix thoroughly. Then gradually add the fluidextracts, previously mixed, and finally, sufficient syrup to make the product measure one thousand mils [or 33 fluid-ounces, 6 ½ fluidrachms]." U. S.

This is intended as a substitute for the popular preparation called Coxe's hive syrup, from which it differs chiefly in containing sugar instead of honey. Prepared as originally directed in the Pharmacopoeia, it invariably fermented from the want of sufficient concentration. This defect was corrected many years ago when sugar was substituted for honey, in consequence of the uncertain consistence and constitution of the latter. The present formula is a decided improvement, fluidextracts of squill and senega being used. Percolation has been found very well adapted for dissolving the sugar and producing a transparent syrup. The present U. S. P. process has the merit of simplicity, but, unfortunately, the fluidextract of squill is never a wholly satisfactory preparation.

The name Coxe's hive syrup, which is meaningless because it is not used in the treatment of hives, is said to owe its origin to a period when croup, for which the remedy is often used, was known popularly as "hives."

Compound syrup of squill combines the virtues of senega, squill, and tartar emetic, of the last of which it contains about one grain in a fluidounce. It is emetic, diaphoretic, expectorant, and frequently cathartic, and may be given with advantage in mild cases of simple croup, also in the latter stages of severe cases when the object is to promote expectoration. The dose of this syrup is, for children, from two to twenty minims (0.12-1.3 mils), according to the age, and it may be repeated in cases of croup every fifteen or twenty minutes until it causes vomiting.

Dose, for adults as an expectorant, from twenty to thirty minims (1.3-1.8 mils).


The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.