286 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 
Chrysarobin Ointment. — This ointment is best made without heat, 
for, although the chrysarobin in part dissolves in the hot fat, it is apt 
to crystallise out on keeping. 
Nitrate of Mercury Ointment. — Of all the ointments of the 
Pharmacopoeia this seems to give the most trouble and the least 
satisfaction ; yet, by following the official directions precisely, a satis- 
factory article can easily be made which keeps without change for 
some considerable time. The consistency, however, when it is made 
with the proportions of lard and oil in the B.P., is rather soft for this 
climate. This is one of the ointments which I think cannot be had of 
a satisfactory consistency all the year round ; it is either too soft in 
summer or too hard in winter. Jf the quantities of lard and olive oil 
are transposed, it makes a better ointment, which has, nevertheless, a 
tendency to granulate on keeping. What I have found more satis- 
factory, though at some seasons of the year a little hard, is — Mercury 1, 
nitric acid 3, lard 10J, and yellow wax 1^. To make a good preparation 
it is advisable to continue the heat until the effervescence ceases. This 
ointment made with vaseline cannot, of course, be the same as the 
official, being only a mixture of acid nitrate of mercury with the 
vaseline. All the samples I have seen of the mixture acquire a very 
disagreeable smell ; and as some always use this preparation and 
no other, it is advisable to have a little in stock, for I know people 
who will not have any citrine ointment but that which smells like 
cockroaches. 
Bed Oxide of Mercury Ointment. — The official directions for 
making this ointment are wrong ; the red oxide should be added to 
the melted fats while hot and stirred constantly till cold, and, as I have 
said before, I should like to see beeswax substituted for hard paraffin, 
as it then makes a very good ointment. 
Iodoform Ointment. — As iodoform, according to Martindale, is 
only soluble in fats to the extent of about 1 in 60, would it not be 
better to mix it without trying to dissolve it, for, although it may be 
more soluble in the hot lard, it would be liable to crystallise out on 
cooling? 
Tar Ointment. — This made according to the official directions is 
rather difficult to turn out well, as the wax cools in lumps on being 
added to the tar; but if the tar is carefully warmed and then the 
melted wax added, by stirring well a good ointment is made, although 
rather hard. What I have found better, and not half so much trouble 
to mix properly, is to replace half the bee sw ax w ith lard. There is one 
thing that should not be neglected in making this ointment, and is not 
mentioned in the B.P.— that is, it should always be strained, for if 
the beat be a shade too great the tar hardens on the bottom and 
sides of the vessel, and no amount of stirring will make it mix. These 
small lumps are perhaps hardly worth speaking about, unless it is 
required to mix with other ointments in dispensing; then they are 
very troublesome. 
Besin Ointment— The B.P. formula makes a good ointment, but 
contains too many ingredients, and at some seasons is too hard. I 
should like to see it altered to resin 4, wax 2, and benzoated lard 9, 
which makes an ointment in all parts just as good as the official one. 
