The White Syrup.
Take pure Fountain-water 1 quart; fine Sugar 3 pound; boil (and scum it well) into a Syrup.
I use to appoint my Apothecary to keep this simple Syrup always ready in his Shop; and that, not for any Medicinal Quality I expect form it, but partly (since 'tis cheap) to make up Electuary (of the Bark, for instance) masses of Pills, mixture of Juniper, and a thousand other things where I require nothing at all from the Syrup, but meerly consistence or sweetning.
And partly that the colour of the Medicine may not be spoiled, and on this account its an Ingredient in the Balsamic Emulsion; and to instance in others, when I prescribe Spirit of Harts-horn, or any other of that Volatile Salt kind to be mixed in a Julep; if I should order Syrup of Gilly-flowers, 'twould turn it nasty black, if syrup of Violets green, if syrup of Cowslips brown like Urine; but when I use this colourless Syrup, it gives no unpleasing colour, nor alters the look of the Medicine in the least.
Thomas Fuller
Pharmacopeia Extemporanea 1710