600 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
that they varied considerably in consistency, according to the manner in which 
the process had been carried out, and it was very desirable to ascertain how far 
these had given satisfaction in their use. 
The Chairman observed, with regard to linimentum potassii iodidi cum 
sapone, that he had made it with Castile soap, as recommended by Mr. Squire, 
and sometimes it had answered and at others not. Sometimes it had formed a 
preparation similar to that upon the table, and it had continued in that condi¬ 
tion for a very long time, until a sudden change of temperature had occurred. 
A sudden frost, or even a transit from one plaee to another, had caused it to 
separate completely ; but on the application of gentle warmth and agitation it 
had again assumed its gelatinous form, and had apparently been as perfect as 
before. With two specimens of soaps bearing the same brand, different results 
had been obtained; and, on examining the two soaps, one was found to be per¬ 
fectly soluble in spirit, and the other almost insoluble. He simply mentioned 
this as a matter of fact and experience. 
Dr. Redwood said he did not notice that Mr. Wood was present, but in a 
recent number of the Pharmaceutical Journal, he (Mr. Wood) had described a 
process for making a soap very suitable for the preparation of soap liniment. 
This soap was made fronTalmond oil, and contained almost exclusively oleic acid. 
He (Dr. Redwood) had not had a specimen of the soap made by Mr. Wood, so 
as to be able to try it, but he thought it was quite worthy of consideration, 
whether soap of that description should not be introduced into the Pharmaco¬ 
poeia, the oleate being soluble in spirit and remaining in solution, and, therefore, 
being suitable where a stearin soap was not. 
Mr. Hills said there seemed to be a difficulty about making the linimentum 
potassii iodidi cum sapone, but he believed it could all be obviated by using 
equal parts of hard and soft soap. He had seen it made over and over again in 
that way. 
Mr. Gale thought soft soap alone would be better even than a mixture of 
hard and soft soap. 
The Chairman pointed out a specimen before them made from soft soap 
alone, and added, that it was an elegant preparation, perfectly transparent. 
Mr. Carteighe said they had been told by the Editor of the Pharmacopoeia 
that this preparation was introduced, as Mr. Smith had said, on the suggestion 
of Mr. Rumsey, of Cheltenham ; and now, after the lapse of a long time, they 
were told that white curd soap was the sort of soap originally used, and which 
afforded the best result. It was a pity they were not told this before. If the 
preparation were to be what Mr. Rumsey originally proposed, it was clear they 
must use curd soap. If, however, the perfectly gelatinous and “ taking ” pre¬ 
paration was required, then they must use either a mixture of hard and soft 
soap, or soft soap alone. 
Dr. Redwood said there was one point which must not be lost sight of. He 
quite agreed with those gentlemen who considered that the transparent gelati¬ 
nous preparation was the most elegant, and would, under all circumstances, be 
the most convenient for use. He thought the majority of those who had had 
the preparation under their notice, seemed to be agreed in thinking that it was 
the form of preparation which it would be the most desirable to be recognized 
in the Pharmacopoeia. He, however, could not agree in thinking, if they could 
attain the object otherwise, that it was desirable to use soft soap. There was a 
very serious objection to soft soap, or to potash soap at all, which was the great 
difficulty of getting it in a neutral condition ; and hence soda soaps would 
always have the advantage over potash soaps, where they were equally applicable. 
Soda soaps were purer, because in making them they had the means of sepa¬ 
rating the soap from the saline matter which would be in the solution. 
