ON THE PREPARATION OF OINTMENTS. 
253 
prove useful in some of the lead ointments. I may say that I have found the 
benzoin a desideratum in preserving marrow, which is sometimes wanted quickly, 
and cannot always be procured sweet and good; and when it enters into the 
composition of pomades, the benzoin flavour is rather an improvement than 
a disadvantage. There is some on the table prepared two months ago, and I 
consider it has kept very well. 
I have only now to thank you for your attention, and hope that I have not 
occupied the time in vain. 
In the discussion that followed the reading of this Paper, some remarks were 
made on the importance of avoiding the application of more heat than was ab¬ 
solutely required for melting the solid fats in the preparation of ointments, it 
being stated that injury was often done by attempting to expedite the process of 
melting wax and spermaceti, without sufficient attention to the fact that some 
time is occupied in the absorption of the heat required for liquefaction. 
Mr. Haselden said he was fully aware of the importance of avoiding the 
application of too much heat, and it was mainly with a view to this that he re¬ 
commended wax and spermaceti to be cut into thin shavings; but even when this 
was done, no doubt some patience was required in allowing the absorption of 
the heat of liquefaction. 
Mr. Hills said Mr. Haselden had alluded to a communication of his on 
prepared lard, in which he recommended the separation of the membrane from 
the flare by mechanical means, and then the kneading and the washing of the 
fat in a current of water, to remove everything soluble in that liquid. He never 
contemplated, as appeared to be understood by Mr. Haselden, that the membrane 
was to be dissolved by the water. 
Mr. Haselden observed that he had certainly been under a misapprehen¬ 
sion on that point. 
Mr. Squire said the subject of the preparation of ointments opened several 
important questions, some of which had been discussed at former meetings. The 
mode of preparing lard, and the propriety of making this the basis of oint¬ 
ments, were among such questions. So many substitutes for lard had been 
proposed in making ointments, that the Pharmacopoeia Committee had been 
somewhat puzzled in the selection. There was some difference of opinion also 
with regard to the preparation of lard. He thought any supposed advan¬ 
tage there might be in the washing of lard, was overbalanced by the diffi¬ 
culty there would always be afterwards in getting the lard entirely free 
from water. His experience led him to adopt a different course. He first 
removed the membrane, and then melted the lard by direct application of heat. 
If the flare was perfectly fresh, he thought there was no necessity for wash¬ 
ing, but if it were rancid, it might perhaps do some good. When prepared 
without water from fresh and sweet flare, in the way he had stated, he always 
found it to keep very well. With reference to some of the ointments referred 
to by Mr. Haselden, he hoped that they would soon become obsolete, including 
Unguentum Conii and Ceratum Calamines. He believed there was no better 
basis for ointments than the Linimentum Simplex of the Edinburgh Pharmaco¬ 
poeia, which consisted of white wax and olive oil. He had found this to 
keep well for two years, but never knew an ointment made with lard to keep 
for more than a few months. 
Mr. Haselden admitted that it was desirable to have the lard as free as 
possible from water, but he still considered washing beneficial in operating on 
the fresh flare. If it once became rancid, washing would be of no use, as it 
was impossible to wash away the rancid odour. 
Mr. Lawrence thought the meeting was under obligation to Mr. Haselden 
VOL. v. T 
