NOTES ON PLASMA. 
209 
Mr. T. B. Groves could confirm the author’s statements as to the room for improve¬ 
ment in this remedy. He recently obtained calamine from a most respectable source, 
and found that it contained no oxide of zinc. 
Mr. Halliday remarked that such circumstances suggested whelher it would not be 
as well to attain uniformity by using oxide of zinc, to which the requisite tinge of 
colour might be given. 
NOTES ON PLASMA. 
BY ME. G. F. SCHACHT. 
Early in tKe year 1858 a paper of mine was read before tbe Pharmaceutical 
Society, entitled, “ Glycerine, a Proposed Substitute for Oils and Eats in 
Ointments.” 
The discussion which followed the reading of this paper (supposing the 
report in the Journal to have been correct) appeared to me at the time, as it 
aj)pears to me now, by no means characterized by judgment or candour. It 
seemed to be assumed that the proposed substitute, “plasma,” was identical 
with a certain something else that had been tried and found wanting, and 
that therefore there was little hope for plasma. The two things, however, 
were not alike. Unfortunately I was unable to be present on the occasion, 
and, as no defence for the proposition was volunteered by any other person, 
a verdict, on the whole, adverse was delivered by the learned critics. Not¬ 
withstanding this damaging circumstance, certain individuals, both in my own 
neighbourhood and in other localities, were differently impressed, and, having 
given the preparation something of a trial, arrived at the conclusion to con¬ 
tinue its use. And so, after eight years’ experience, I am not a little pleased 
to find plasma not only talked about, written about, and prescribed, but also 
that a proposition has been made by no less an authority than Dr. Eedwood 
to introduce it into the next Pharmacopoeia. 
From the date of my paper (February, 1858) to the present moment I have 
made no further public allusion to the article; I may, perhaps, then be 
excused if I now once more obtrude it upon my fellow-pharmaceutists. 
It is, perhaps, undesirable that I should follow every one who has expressed 
himself upon the matter; in referring, however, to the opinions and observa¬ 
tions of afeiv, I trust to be understood to imply no disrespect for the labours 
of the rest. 
I may observe, as a general remark, that those who have loritten upon the 
matter express opinions favourable to the preparation; the objections to it 
have usually been uttered in conversations and discussions upon these more 
deliberately expressed opinions. The list of tangible objections, however, is 
not large ; it amounts to no more than two. These are serious objections, 1 
admit, if they really exist, but they are not numerous. 
The first is, that the preparation becomes softer by exposure to the mois¬ 
ture of the air; and the second, that it is liable to become mouldy by 
keeping. 
With regard to the first, I think we must admit that it is a difficulty. I 
pointed it out in my original paper, and I do not think there is anj^ prospect 
of our being able altogether to obviate it. We must accept it as a property 
of all preparations of glycerine, and avoid exposure to moisture as much as 
possible. But I have not found this property of great practical inconve¬ 
nience. I have kept plasma in a common covered pot for a long time with¬ 
out apparent change. Here is a sample kept in this way since December, 
1865, and it is still of very good consistence. But if the article be really 
VOL. VIII. P 
