252 
PIIAltMACETJTICAL MEETING. 
enters into the composition of twenty out of twenty-seven of the Pharma¬ 
copoeia ointments, and I tread upon this ground with some diffidence. My 
friend Mr. Hills gave upon a former occasion a very good process for the pre¬ 
paration of lard, the principal feature of which consisted in repeated washings 
of the flare or fat, until the skin or membrane was almost dissolved before any 
heat was applied.* Well, I found this quantity of ablution troublesome, as 
there was a difficulty in afterwards getting rid of the water, so thoroughly had it 
become amalgamated with the fat. The plan I have adopted for some time past, 
with the best result, has been this. The flare is cut up into small pieces, sepa¬ 
rating and paring off the skin, throwing the fat into cold water, and wasli- 
ing, by rubbing it with the hands. This is done with two or three quantities 
of water ; it is then pressed with the hands, to squeeze out as much of the water 
as possible; it is placed in an earthen vessel, and submitted to a water-bath 
heat, either over an ordinary fire, or, which is preferable, if convenient, by means 
of a steam-pan. As soon as the fat becomes liquid, say, the consistence of 
cream,—not clear and limpid,—it is taken out and strained into a pan, and 
when cold the lard is cutout, and potted down in lib. or 21b. jars; any water 
that was with it will be found at the bottom of the vessel. The temperature to 
which the fat itself is raised ranges from between 115° to 120° Fahr., the tempera • 
tnre of the water forming the bath between 105° and 212° Fahr. This is a simple 
process, requires no particular arrangement for washing, may be done upon a 
small scale without loss, and will cost when done 10 cl. per pound, a price at which 
even bad lard cannot always be bought. I believe the secret of making good 
sweet lard depends upon the small quantity of heat employed in the melting. 
This brings me to benzoinated lard. The process for preparing this is in some 
measure perhaps slightly varying in every establishment, but with an equally 
good result, and I mention it more for the sake of making the following allusion. 
I pause here for a moment to call to your remembrance the name of him 
who first introduced this preparation to our notice ? And as each one gazes upon 
that beautiful representation of Jacob Bell in the hall of this house, may he be 
stimulated with the wish, if not with the same means, to support, as far as he 
is able, the honour of this Society, which has for its objects the diffusion of 
knowledge, the elevation, morally and intellectually, of its members, the assist¬ 
ance of those who have untowardly fallen into want, and the production of a 
kindly spirit throughout the whole body. 
The late M. Moquin-Tandon mentions the employment of the resin of 
tolu, the waste product after making the syrup, as a preservative for lard, etc. 
It might do in the event of a scarcity of benzoin, but it has not the same fra¬ 
grant odour, having been largely deprived of it in the process of making the 
syrup. I have some which has been prepared about fifteen months, but is now 
changed, although still retaining some of the tolu odour. 
In connection with this, I may perhaps draw attention to the Ceratum Ca- 
laminse, than which there is no ointment or cerate that becomes so soon rancid 
and disagreeable. Now why should not the benzoin be added to this, as well as 
to the zinc ointment ? The only point to be overcome was the fact that oil, 
and not lard, was used in this case. u Let some benzoinated oil be made,” said I, 
and in February last, nine months ago, I prepared some, of which there is a 
small quantity, and also a pot of Ceratum Calaminse, made with this oil last 
month, and I have every reason to think it will keep in a state fit for use some 
considerable time. I believe it is considered a good cleansing cerate, and would 
be mere frequently ordered, but for the fact that unless recently made, it is 
unfit for use. Although I have not yet tried, I am inclined to think it might 
* This was written from memory of what was said at the Pharmaceutical Meeting, Jan. 4, 
1860; for further particulars, vide Ph. Jour., Second Series, vol. i., No. viii., p. 399, lines 6 
and 27 from top, etc. 
