/ 
168  Cold  Cream  and  Ceratum  Galeni.  {^"^Xiss?™' 
With  this  suggested  addition  the  formula  for  confection  of  sulphur 
would  read  thus  : 
Bublimed  sulphur,  ....        4  ounces. 
Acid  tartrate  of  potash  in  powder,  .  .    1  ounce. 
Tragacanth  in  powder,  .  .  .  .18  grainS| 
Syrup  of  orange  peel,  .         .         .         .4  ounces. 
Rub  the  powders  together  and  mix  thoroughly  with  the  syrup. — 
Phai-m.  Jour,  and  Trans. ^  February  18,  1882. 
COLD  CREAM,  or  THE  CERATUM  GALENI. 
By  James  Mackenzie. 
Mead  at  a  Meeting  of  the  North  British  Braneh  of  the  Pharmaceutical 
Society^  February  8,  1882. 
Though  this  article  may  not  properly  be  termed  a  pharmaceutical 
preparation,  it  is  yet  one  which,  at  certain  seasons,  is  in  such  popular- 
demand  as  to  render  it  a  matter  of  interest  to  the  chemist  and  drug- 
gist. It  is,  besides  an  article  so  susceptible  of  various  changes,  that,  in 
spite  of  all  that  has  been  done  to  avert  them,  new  efforts  require  to  be 
made,  in  order  to  secure  a  stable  and  uniform  preparation. 
Galen,  the  celebrated  physician  of  Pergamos,  is  accredited  with  the 
invention  of  this  well-known  unguent.  In  ancient,  as  in  modern  times, 
it  was  compounded  of  very  simple  constituents,  viz.,  grease,  water 
and  perfume,  and  (need  we  say)  is  known  in  pharmacy  under  the  title 
of  Ceratum  Galeyd.  No  doubt,  very  considerable  changes  have  been 
introduced  at  different  times  into  its  composition,  which  have  aff^ected 
alike  its  odor  and  quality  ;  yet  practically  the  oleaginous  ingredient 
with  water  has  been  retained  during  so  long  a  period  as  seventeen  cen- 
turies. We  may  safely  conclude,  however,  that  with  all  the  appliances 
of  modern  times  the  article  as  prepared  in  our  day  must  present  a 
marked  improvement  on  the  ancient  ceratum  of  Galen. 
My  object,  at  present,  is  not  to  trace  the  history  of  this  esteemed  pre- 
paration, nor  to  give  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  any  of  the- 
numerous  formulas  may  be  compounded  ;  much  less  is  it  to  give  rea- 
sons for  failure  in  the  efforts  of  careful  pharmacists  who  have  endea- 
vored to  effect  permanent  improvments  in  the  article.  Suffice  it  to  say^ 
that  we  know  from  experience  probably  more  than  enough  of  such 
things.  All  I  wish  to  advance  is  that  in  presence  of  the  difficulties- 
which  present  themselves  in  connection  with  thi^  ceratum  I  have  been 
