574 
Unguentum  Aqua  Rosa. 
/  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\       Dec,  1878. 
almonds.  I  cannot  see  that  the  former  has  any  advantage  over  the 
latter,  but,  on  the  contrary,  I  claim  that  the  almond  oil  is  far  superior, 
therapeutically  and  pharmaceutical^,  on  account  of  its  containing  more 
olein,  although  the  difference  is  not  much.  Olive  oil  contains  72 
per  cent.,  while  the  oil  of  almonds  contains  76  per  cent.  Olive  oil  is 
also  more  liable  to  oxidation,  more  disposed  to  rancidity,  and  does  not 
make  an  ointment  as  handsome  in  appearance  as  almond  oil. 
I  had  occasion  to  make  for  a  country  practitioner  considerable  quan- 
tities of  cold  cream  in  the  summer  season,  as  well  as  in  the  winter, 
and  owing  to  the  high  price  of  almond  oil  at  that  time  he  suggested 
that  I  use  something  cheaper,  and  proposed  olive  oil.  I  made  some 
as  requested,  and  of  as  fine  a  quality  of  olive  oil  as  could  be  obtained, 
leaving  the  water  of  roses  out  and  using  attar  of  roses  instead,  with  an 
increased  quantity  of  olive  oil.  Before  it  was  all  used  he  made  com- 
plaint that  it  was  quite  rancid,  and  of  a  very  disagreeable  odor,  and 
that  he  could  not  use  it  and  was  compelled  to  throw  it  away.  That 
was  the  last  cold  cream  I  prepared  for  the  Doctor  with  olive  oil. 
Coming  now  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  process,  I  also  make  an  objec- 
tion, although  my  objection  may  appear  trifling  to  some  pharmacists. 
I  have  reference  to  the  rose  water.  When  prescribed  alone  I  believe 
the  ointment  meets  the  requirements  of  the  physician,  furnishing  a 
cooling  application  to  irritated  or  excoriated  surfaces.  It  is  bland,  and 
makes  a  verv  elegant  ointment  ;  but  when  we  have  ointments  to  pre- 
pare like  the  following,  which  I  frequently  have  occasion  to  dispense, 
$     Hydrarg.  ox.  rub         grs.  vi  R     Zinci  oxidi,  £iv 
Ungt.  aq.  rosae,  or  Ungt.  aq.  rosas,  Ji 
M.  ft.  ungt.  M.  ft.  ungt. 
then  I  contend  there  are  objections  to  the  present  formula.  After 
Tubbing  the  oxide  to  an  impalpable  powder,  preparatory  to  mixing  it 
with  the  cold  cream,  then  comes  the  trouble  in  mixing  the  powder  and 
ointment ;  most  of  the  water  is  pressed  out,  thereby  losing  at  least 
about  15  per  cent,  of  its  weight,  furnishing  a  salve  much  stronger  than 
perhaps  the  prescriber  is  aware  of,  besides  the  annoyance  and  inconve- 
nience the  apothecary  has  to  contend  with.  The  object  of  the  writer 
is  to  present  a  formula  for  an  ointment  which  he  has  been  using  for 
some  time  with  perfect  satisfaction,  and  which  will  obviate  this  objec- 
tion and  fill  all  requirements  equally  as  good  if  not  better  than  the 
