ON THE PREPARATION OP OINTMENTS. 
251 
Let me now offer a few words more immediately touching the preparation of 
ointments. In the Pharmacopoeia the quantity ordered is generally small, and 
ointments can he made in small quantities quite as well as in large; and an ob¬ 
servation here presents itself, one that is often overlooked in our discussions, 
viz. that pharmacopoeias are compiled more especially for the dispensers of 
medicine, rather than for wholesale manufacturers, so that every one who under¬ 
takes the dispensing of a'physician’s or surgeon’s prescription may, if so inclined, 
do so with the full conviction that having made the preparations on his own pre¬ 
mises in accordance with the published formula, he can supply exactly what is 
expected. It is equally true that chemicals of a definite character can be and are 
prepared by certain makers on a large scale in a better manner than they could 
be upon a small one, and in these particulars the dispenser has full permission 
from the College of Physicians to procure them of the best makers. But to re¬ 
turn to our ointments, which I fear are not very interesting: nevertheless, the 
more uninteresting a subject may be, the more necessary it sometimes becomes 
to tackle it. 
One of the most, if not the most, important points in the making of oint¬ 
ments is that they should be so prepared as to keep as long as possible, 
without becoming rancid ; now the degree of heat used and the time the materials 
are under the influence of that heat, have much to do with the production of a 
good sweet ointment. Where wax and spermaceti are used in combination with 
oil, as in the Ung. Cetacei, the wax and spermaceti should be cut into thin sha¬ 
vings, so as to get them melted as soon as possible, and with the smallest 
amount of heat, not forgetting to keep the whole well stirred until cold; and 
where lard forms part of the compound in addition to the wax and oil, it will, 
in most cases, be found that the larcl can be thoroughly incorporated, if put in 
immediately upon removing the melted wax and oil from the fire. 
In preparing the Ung. Belladonna, which is simply a mixture of the extract 
with lard, it is found necessary generally to moisten the extract with a few drops of 
water, in order to obtain a smooth preparation. It might perhaps be advan¬ 
tageous in making the Ung. Conii if the form had been constructed upon the 
same plan, and extract had been ordered instead of the fresh leaves; for with 
the one a pretty definite preparation is arrived at, and can be readily made at 
all times, whereas with the other it can only be made at one season of the 
year, and at the best is not a very certain product. The Ung. Opii, again, is a 
simple mixture of powdered opium and lard ; and if the attempt be made to 
mix in the dry powder, the chances are that the ointment will abound with small 
dark specks ; but if the opium be moistened with a few drops of water and rubbed 
into a pasty state, it will then mix kindly with the lard, and make a good uniform 
ointment; and this applies equally to the Ung. Gallse Co., only it is not ne¬ 
cessary to moisten the powdered galls, it is better not to do so. 
The next which attracts notice is the Ung. Plumbi Comp. Made in accord¬ 
ance with the Pharmacopoeia, it soon becomes hard, and in a state quite unfit 
for spreading ; but let the order of the quantities of lead plaster and olive oil 
be reversed, and we have an ointment which will keep soft any length of 
time, and which is in all probability quite as valuable as an ointment. 
In preparing the Ung. Sabinm it would be an advantage if the wax were 
omitted, as it considerably impedes the process of straining, and reduces the 
amount of product; and why it should be requisite in this and not in the Ung. 
Belladonna and Ung. Conii, I am at a loss to conjecture; and with thellng. Sam- 
buci, as the flowers can give no virtue beyond the pleasant smell, the ointment 
might be as well prepared by beating together, over a water-batli, some good elder- 
flower water and the lard,—with this advantage, that it can be made at any 
time, whereas the ointment of the Pharmacopoeia can only be prepared at one 
season of the year, and is generally bad before the next comes round. 
I now come to a very important part of the subject, namely, lard, which 
