THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
OCTOBER,  1882, 
COTTON  SEED  OIL.    SOME  of  its  USES  IN  PHAEMACY; 
AND  ITS  DETECTION  WHEN  MIXED  with  OLIVE  OIL. 
By  S.  S.  Bradford,  Ph.G. 
Having  had  occasion  during  the  last  six  years  to  manufacture  lead 
plaster  in  considerable  quantities,  it  occurred  to  me  that  cotton  seed 
oil  might  be  used  instead  of  olive  oil,  at  less  expense,  and  with  as  good 
results.  The  making  of  this  plaster  with  cotton  seed  oil  has  been 
questioned,  as  according  to  some  authorities  the  product  is  not  of  good 
consistence,  and  is  apt  to  be  soft,  stick}*,  and  dark  colored,  but  in  my 
experience  such  is  not  the  case.  If  the  U.  S.  P.  process  is  followed  in 
making  this  plaster,  substituting  for  the  olive  oil  cotton  seed  oil,  and 
instead  of  one-half  pint  of  boiling  water  one  and  one-half  pint  are 
added,  the  product  obtained  will  be  equally  as  good  as  that  from  olive 
oil.  My  results  with  this  oil  in  making  lead  plaster  led  me  to  try  it 
in  making  the  different  liniments  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  with  the  fol- 
lowing results : 
Linimentum  Ammonim. — This  liniment,  made  with  cotton  seed  oil, 
is  of  much  better  consistency  than  when  made  with  olive  oil.  It  is 
not  so  thick,  will  pour  easily  out  of  the  bottle,  and  if  the  ammonia 
used  is  of  proper  strength  will  make  a  perfect  liniment. 
Linimentum  Cahis. — Cotton  seed  oil  is  not  at  all  adapted  to  making 
this  liniment.  It  does  not  readily  saponify,  separates  quickly,  and  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  unite  when  separated. 
Linimentum  Camphor m. — Cotton  seed  oil  is  far  superior  to  olive  oil 
in  making  this  liniment,  it  being  a  much  better  solvent  of  camphor. 
It  has  not  that  disagreeable  odor  so  commonly  found  in  the  liniment. 
Linimentum  Chloroformi. — Cotton  seed  oil  being  very  soluble  in 
chloroform,  the  liniment  made  with  it  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired. 
Linimentum  Plimibi  Subacetatis. — When  liq.  plumbi  subacet.  is 
mixed  with  cotton  seed  oil  and  allowed  to  stand  for  some  time  the  oil 
assumes  a  reddish  color  similar  to  that  of  freshly-made  tincture  of 
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