Am.  Jour.  Pharm  \ 
Feb.,  1878.  J 
Sapo  Vtridis. 
65 
and  in  three  hours  blistered  it,  thus  proving  conclusively  and  satisfac- 
torily that  a  change  can  be  made  advantageously  as  recommended. 
2d.  The  tincture  as  prepared  according  to  the  present  directions  is 
objectionable,  on  account  of  its  inelegant  appearance  and  the  precipita- 
tion which  takes  place  shortly  after  being  prepared  \  it  is  decidedly  dis- 
pleasing to  the  eye,  and  does  not  present  that  beautiful  clear  greenish- 
yellow  color  as  when  prepared  with  alcohol.  Ir  our  days  of  advance- 
ment in  elegant  pharmaceutical  preparations,  we  should  endeavor  to 
manufacture  handsome-looking  products,  so  long  as  the  medicinal  qual- 
ities of  the  drug  are  not  impaired. 
3d.  As  tincture  of  cantharides  is  one  of  the  ingredients  of  the  many 
hair  tonics  and  dressings  which  pharmacists  are  often  called  upon  to 
prepare,  it  is  also  preferable  on  account  of  the  solubility  of  the  castor 
oil  which  frequently  enters  into  preparations  of  this  kind,  producing 
and  furnishing  to  the  customer  a  much  handsomer  compound. 
The  German  Pharmacopoeia  directs  to  prepare  the  tincture  by  mac- 
erating cantharides,  1  part,  with  alcohol  sp.  gr.  0*832,  10  parts,  for 
eight  days,  and  filtering. 
SAPO  VIRIDIS. 
By  Herman  Betz. 
Read  at  the  Alumni  Meeting,  "January  3. 
This  preparation  is  used  to  some  extent  in  Europe,  and  many  phar- 
macists here  are  obliged  to  keep  it  for  their  customers,  who  make  use 
of  it  in  itch  and  allied  affections,  for  which  it  is  by  some  considered 
quite  an  efficacious  remedy. 
As  found  in  the  market,  it  is  often  very  impure,  being  prepared  from 
common  animal  fats  and  colored  with  various  substances.  Animal  fats 
are  not  advisable  for  this  purpose,  but  any  vegetable  fatty  oil,  such  as 
oil  of  hemp  or  linseed  can  be  very  properly  used.  In  countries 
where  oil  of  hempseed  is  a  common  article  of  commerce,  green  soap 
is  usually  made  from  this  oil,  and  is  obtained  of  a  nice  dark-green 
color. 
One  reason  why  green  soap  in  this  country  is  so  often  adulterated 
may  be  found  in  the  scarcity  and  high  price  of  oil  of  hempseed.  Oil 
of  linseed  has  the  same  properties  in  making  a  soap  for  the  purpose 
before  mentioned,  and  on  account  of  its  cheapness  would  not  offer  so 
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