192  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting. 
ties  who  hfive  made  use  of  it  in  the  nianiifactiire  of  varnishes  recommend 
higlily.  It  is  largely  composed  of  benzoic  acid  and  on  oxidation  yields 
picric  acid ;  it  has  a  benzoin-like,  balsaniic  odor  and  is  of  Australian  origin.. 
Prof.  J.  P.  Remington  called  attention  to  a  formula  for  prejiaring  xmguen- 
tum  hydrargyria  which  is  of  such  easy  execution  that  he  thought  every 
pharmacist  could,  by  following  the  directions,  make  whatever  quantity  of 
this  preparation  he  might  require. 
Take  of  Mercury,  .  .  .  .50  parts 
Lard,  .  .  .  .25 
Suet,        -  .  ...  25 
Mercurial  ointment,  .  .  .10 
Coihp.  tinct.  benzoin,         .  .  .4 
Mix  the  mercury  with  the  compound  tincture  of  benzoin,  in  a  mortar^ 
and  add  the  mercurial  ointment,  and  triturate  the  mixture  until  the  glob- 
ules of  mercury  cease  to  be  visible  with  a  lens  of  10  diameters  power ;  then 
add  the  suet  and  lard,  previously  melted  together  and  partially  cooled,  and 
mix  all  together  until  smooth.  It  is  unnecessary  to  use  old  and  rancid 
mercurial  ointment;  but  the  addition  of  some  properly  made  mercurial 
ointment,  which  is  entirely  free  from  rancidity,  facilitates  the  extinction 
of  the  mercury  with  the  aid  of  the  compound  tincture  of  benzoin,  which 
has  a  better  effect  than  the  simple  tincture  of  benzoin.  The  small  amount 
of  resinous  matter,  less  than  1  per  cent.,  introduced  into  the  ointment,  can 
have  no  injurious  effect. 
The  following  formula  for  p  'dula  hydrargyrl  is  recommended  for  adop- 
tion in  the  new  edition  of  the  U.  S.  Pharniacoixjeia : 
Take  of  Mercury,  .  .  .  .16  parts 
Sugar,  .  ...  .15 
Liquorice  root,  in  fine  powder,  .  .  8 
Honey,  .  .  .  .  3 
Rose  water,  .  .  .  .4 
Red  rose,  in  fine  powder,  .  .  2 
Distilled  water,     .  .  .  .    q.  s. 
Triturate  the  liquorice  root  with  the  mercury  and  honey ;  gradually  add 
the  rose  water,  and  continue  the  trituration  until  the  globules  of  mercury 
cease  to  be  visible  under  a  lens  magnifying  10  diameters.  Then  add  the 
sugar  and  red  rose,  and  rub  the  whole  thoroughly  together  until  a  uniform 
plastic  mass  results.  If  the  mass  becomes  too  dry  during  trituration,  add 
a  little  distilled  water,  and  when  the  whole  is  thoroughly  mixed  expose 
the  mass  to  the  air  in  a  thin  layer  until  it  is  of  proper  consistency. 
Prof.  Maisch  stated  that  he  had  successfully  used  a  similar  formula,^ 
which  suggested  itself  through  the  observation  of  AV.  W.  Stoddart  ("Amer, 
Jour.  Phar.,"  1856,  p.  162),  that  mercury  is  rapidly  extinguished  with 
moist  powxlered  liquorice  root.  Powdered  blue  mass  may  be  made  in  the 
same  manner,  using,  in  the  place  of  the  honey  and  rose  water,  an  equal 
weight  of  milk-sugar,  and  finally  allowing  the  water  or  alcohol  employed 
in  trituration  to  evaporate. 
There  being  no  further  business,  the  meeting  adjourned. 
T.  S.  WiEGAND,  Registrar. 
j  Am.  Jour.  Pharmw 
(      April,  1881. 
