OINTMENTS OP THE PHARMACOPOEIA. 
285 
stearine separates out on cooling, thus causing it to present the 
granular appearance. I have noticed that benzoated lard made at the 
beginning of winter keeps from granulating a much longer time than 
that made near summer time. When lard does granulate, nothing 
remedies it but remelting and properly cooling with stirring. I have 
also noticed that if beeswax is added to the lard in the hot weather, 
in sufficient quantity to prevent it melting at so low a temperature, it 
does not granulate. I should suggest for our climate the addition of 
2 to 4 oz. of beeswax to 1 lb. of benzoated lard to those ointments 
that have it as a basis. This, by the way, is the “ ointment” of the 
TJ.S.P. in the proportion of 1 of wax to 4 of lard, from which, no 
doubt, it will be thought I took the suggestion. Such w T as not the 
case, for I had found it answer before I knew of what “ Ointment 
TJ.S.P.” was composed. 
Boracic Acid Ointment. — The present B.P. formula gives a 
fairly good preparation, if it is carefully mixed. In this case the 
sample of hard paraffin selected should have a medium to high 
melting point, as this ointment was introduced as a protective, and 
this object would be defeated were the melting point of the finished 
product too low. As a hard ointment is in this case required, this, 
perhaps, more than any other, would be improved by using beeswax 
instead of hard paraffin. A hard ointment is a great advantage over 
a soft one in some cases — burns, for instance, when dressings are 
allowed to remain undisturbed for a day at least. The hard ointment 
comes away easily, while the soft is genei'ally absorbed by the skin 
and dressings, which are left sticking in the sore, and are often some 
trouble to remove. I have heard of this fact alone keeping back 
cases that should have got on all right, and did so as soon as the 
ointment was changed to a harder one. The boracic acid should always 
be put through a fine sieve before mixing with the base, but the 
method of sifting the acid over the melted fats is inconvenient and 
unnecessary. The acid should be put into the ointment before it 
is removed from the heat, to prevent the cold powder from suddenly 
chilling a portion of the ointment. Cool in the manner I have recom- 
mended ; and it is not difficult in this w r ay to make a nice smooth 
preparation instead of an unsatisfactory lumpy one. 
Carbolic Acid Ointment. — The official formula is not satisfactory, 
as the acid does not dissolve readily in the paraffin; and although when 
first made the ointment appears all right, after a short time the acid 
begins to separate out, which with such a thing as carbolic acid is not 
at all desirable. It is a little better when made with beeswax instead 
of hard paraffin, but I should suggest its being made with benzoated 
lard and beeswax, in which the acid would dissolve. 
Salicylic Acid Ointment . — The remarks on boracic acid ointment 
would apply to this also. 
Aconitine, atropine, belladonna, calamine, gall, calomel, acetate 
of lead, iodide of potassium, iodoform, sulphur, and oxide of zinc 
ointments are made with benzoated lard, and, as I have before men- 
tioned, require the addition of 2 oz. to 4 oz. of beeswax to the 1 lb., 
according to the climate. 
Spermaceti Ointment. — The official form makes an ointment far 
too soft for this climate. 1 would suggest this as a suitable formula — 
Spermaceti 10, white wax 4, and benzoated lard 60. 
I 
