Confectio Rosae Gallicae Br. Confection of Roses.
Related entry: Rose
Conserva Rosarum; Conserve de Rose, Fr. Cod.; Conserve de Rose rouge, Fr.; Rosen-Conserve, G.
Confection of Rose was unfortunately dropped from the U. S. P. IX, but was introduced into the National Formulary IV. (See Part III.)
"Fresh Red-Rose Petals, 250 grammes; Refined Sugar, 750 grammes. Beat together in a stone mortar," Br.
"Red Rose, in No. 60 powder, eighty grammes [or 2 ounces av., 360 grains]; Sugar, in fine powder, six hundred and forty grammes [or 22 ounces av., 252 grains]; Clarified Honey, one hundred and twenty grammes [or 4 ounces av., 102 grains]; Stronger Rose Water, one hundred and sixty cubic centimeters [or 5 fluid-ounces, 197 minims], to make about one thousand grammes [or 35 ounces av., 120 grains]. Rub the Red Rose with the Stronger Rose Water previously heated to 65° C. (149° F.), then gradually add the Sugar and Clarified Honey, and beat the whole together until a uniform mass results." U. S. VIII.
In the British process the unblown petals only are used, and these should be deprived of their claws; in other words, the rose-buds should be cut off a short distance above their base, and the lower portion rejected. In the last four editions of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, dried roses have been substituted for the fresh, as the latter are not brought to our market. The process is very similar to that of the French Codex. We have been informed, however, that confection of rose is still made in Philadelphia on a large scale from the fresh petals of the R. centifolia and others, by beating them into a pulp with sugar, as in the British process. An excuse for this deviation from the official formula is, that the confection thus made has greater adhesiveness than the official, and is therefore better fitted for the formation of pills. Confection of Rose is slightly astringent; it is used almost exclusively as a vehicle, and is admirably adapted as an excipient and to impart consistence to the pilular mass.
Off. Prep.—Pilula Hydrargyri, Br.
