264 
ORIGINAL AND EXTRACTED ARTICLES. 
NOTE ON THE PREPARATION OF OINTMENTS. 
BY MB. JOSEPH INCE. 
The facility with which ointments in general may be prepared has led to some 
disregard as to the care required in this branch of practical pharmacy. The 
Society is therefore indebted to Mr. Haselden for having brought the subject 
prominently before its notice. One essential point may yet be mentioned, 
namely, the importance, amounting often to the necessity, of filtration, whether 
direct or indirect. 
No vegetable ointment, that is compound of fat and a vegetable substance, 
should be allowed to leave an English Pharmacy without having been previously 
filtered through a steam-funnel. So great is the advantage gained in the ap¬ 
pearance, as well as in the subsequent keeping of the ointment, that this finish¬ 
ing process cannot be too strongly urged. 
The Unguentum Sambuci is directed to be made with equal weights of Elder- 
fiowers and Lard. Boil the Elder-flowers in the Lard until they become crisp ; 
then press through a linen cloth. However carefully it may thus have been pre¬ 
pared, enough water, or vegetable matter, or both, remains to effect the speedy 
decomposition of the ointment. It becomes rancid, changes colour, and may 
fitly be termed an inelegant preparation. But if, instead of arresting the process 
one stage too soon, the whole mass is filtered through the steam-funnel, a won¬ 
derful change is effected; the colour is materially improved, the scent of the 
Elder-flower is developed, and the ointment will remain in a state of perfect pre¬ 
servation during any reasonable space of time ; nor when so treated am I aware 
that any desirable alteration could be suggested. 
The CJnguentum Conii (not in great repute) is ordered to be made from equal 
weights of fresh Hemlock-leaves and Lard. Boil the Hemlock in the Lard until 
it becomes crisp ; then press through linen. The result we know is most unsatis¬ 
factory ; the colour obtained being its least recommendation. Pursuing the 
same plan of subsequent filtration, we obtain at once an elegant, though possibly 
a not very useful ointment. 
By the adoption of this method two distinct things are gained,—first, a bright 
attractive appearance ; and, secondly, a perceptible improvement in the preserva¬ 
tion of the compound. 
I can scarcely imagine any establishment where steam-power is used not 
availing themselves of this simple but efficacious plan. 
I should mention that where no such apparatus is at hand, a very little in¬ 
genuity exerted in connecting gutta-percha tubing with an ordinary domestic 
boiler, or even with a tolerably capacious kettle, and allowing the steam gene¬ 
rated to pass through a jacketed tin funnel, would be amply sufficient for the 
purpose. 
The cost of such a piece of mechanism would be under five shillings. 
There are however several ointments, and specially those used in dispensing, 
which from their nature do not admit of this direct filtration. No ointment 
could be thus treated containing an insoluble metallic active principle, such as 
Unguentum Ilydrargyri .Iodidi, Unguentum Plumbi Iodidi, or Unguentum Pre- 
cipitati Albi; because in all such cases the fat would filter through, and leave 
behind the very ingredient on which the value of the ointment rests. A large 
slab should be selected, over which is drawn a square of rather coarse muslin. The 
ointment having been properly prepared, either from prescription or from a Phar¬ 
macopoeia! formula, is worked through the muslin by the aid of a bone spatula 
(the muslin being twisted up from the four corners to make a bag). There is no 
