512 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
alkaline before setting it aside. The composition of the arseniate used in ana¬ 
lysis, as given in most chemical works, is 3 N H 4 0, As0 5 ; this therefore is ob¬ 
viously incorrect. 
Dr. Attfield inquired if Mr. Watts had made any experiments on the solu¬ 
bility of uric acid, and the urates of soda and lime, in solution of phosphate of 
ammonia. We were told that this salt was given in gout and rheumatism, to 
render these bodies soluble. There certainly would be a probability of urate of 
ammonia being formed, if the alkaline salt ever came in contact with the uric 
acid or urates in the blood or urine ; but unfortunately urate of ammonia was 
even less soluble than the original urates, hence the pain and inconvenience 
attending gouty concretions, and calculi might be increased rather than dimi¬ 
nished by the administration of phosphate of ammonia. In the absence of evi¬ 
dence to the contrary, chemical facts would suggest that bicarbonate of potash 
would be the salt whose exhibition would offer the greatest advantages, as urate 
of potash was more soluble than any other urate. 
Mr. Watts said he had not made any experiments in the direction suggested 
by Dr. Attfield. 
ON A BETTER MODE OF PREPARING RED OXIDE OF MER¬ 
CURY OINTMENT FOR APPLICATION IN CERTAIN CUTANE¬ 
OUS DISEASES. 
BY ALEX. BALM ANNO SQUIRE, M.B., ETC. 
Having had frequent occasion to make use of ointments containing the red 
oxide of mercury in the treatment of chronic disease of the skin, it occurred to 
me that the activity of that ingredient might be greatly increased by its being 
prepared in a different manner to that directed in the British Pharmacopoeia. On 
making trial of my new preparation, I found it not only more pleasant to the 
patient, but decidedly more efficient as a remedy. 
My original opinion has now been confirmed by a pretty extensive use of both 
preparations, and as a revised edition of the Pharmacopoeia is expected shortly, 
and the remedy is one of extensive use, I have thought the subject worthy of 
the attention of the Pharmaceutical Society. 
It will be well, in the first place, to review the modes in which the binoxide has 
been directed to be prepared in the British, and in the preceding London Phar¬ 
macopoeias. 
In the British Pharmacopoeia, under the name of red oxide of mercury, it is 
directed to be prepared by the action of nitric acid on metallic mercury, and the 
subsequent application of heat to a mixture of the resulting nitrate with me¬ 
tallic mercury. 
In the last London Pharmacopoeia, under the name of nitric oxide of mercury, 
it is prepared by the application of heat to the nitrate. 
In the last London Pharmacopoeia but one, two different processes are given: 
the one is almost identical with the process last mentioned, and its product is 
called the nitric oxide; the other is the decomposition of a solution of corro¬ 
sive sublimate by a solution of potash, and its product is termed the binoxide. 
The ointment in this last-mentioned Pharmacopoeia is prepared from the nitric 
oxide, the binoxide being used only in the preparation of the bicyanide of 
mercury. It is my object this evening to show that the binoxide should have 
been chosen for the ointment rather than the nitric oxide, and to give what 
I trust may be thought sufficient reasons for advocating the revival of the former 
