AmMay"x87h7arm-}  Ointment  of  Oxide  of  Zinc.— Formulas.  233 
OINTMENT  OF  OXIDE  OF  ZINC. 
By  James  Ruan,  Ph.G. 
The  present  formula  in  the  "  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia "  for  Ungt. 
Zinci  Ox.  does  not  seem  to  meet  the  favor  of  some  pharmaceutists  on 
account  of  the  tediousness  of  the  process  and  the  time  consumed  in 
its  manipulation.  Recently,  in  the  "  Druggists'  Circular,"  a  formula 
was  recommended  which,  no  doubt,  may  produce  an  excellent  result, 
but  too  marked  a  departure  from  that  of  the  "  Pharmacopoeia,"  in  any 
preparation,  is  to  be  condemned.  A.nd  I  cannot  see  that  the  amount 
of  labor  involved  in  the  preparation  is  "reduced  in  comparison  with  that 
in  the  officinal.  What  is  surprising  is  that  there  should  be  so  much 
trouble  in  its  preparation  by  some  pharmaceutists. 
Some  use  a  large  mortar  to  grind  the  zinc  into  the  lard,  others  exer- 
cise themselves  with  a  paint  mill,  and  lastly,  another  has  gone  into  the 
kitchen  and  seized  upon  the  flat-iron  as  the  instrument  par  excellence 
to  attain  his  purpose  ;  and  yet  all  seemed  to  have  overlooked  a  very 
simple  element  found  in  every  drug  store,  viz.  :  aqua. 
The  following  process,  I  think,  will  be  found  to  answer  all  purposes, 
producing  a  preparation  free  from  all  roughness  and  unequaled  for 
smoothness  : 
Rub  the  80  grains  of  oxide  of  zinc  with  about  fgss  of  water,  on  a 
tile,  with  a  spatula,  into  a  smooth  paste,  then  incorporate  the  400 
grains  of  ointment  of  benzoin. 
If  a  larger  quantity  is  desired  to  keep  on  hand,  the  whole  may  be 
turned  into  an  evaporating  dish,  placed  on  a  water  bath,  applying  a 
gentle  heat  to  drive  off  excess  of  water,  and  stirring  until  cool,  lastly 
adding  the  tincture  of  benzoin. 
FORMULAS  and  PREPARATIONS  of  New  MEDICAMENTS, 
By  the  Editor. 
We  find  in  the  French  journals  a  number  of  formulas,  which  have 
been  discussed  before  the  pharmaceutical  society  of  Paris,  and  from 
which  we  make  the  following  selections  : 
Thymic  Acid. — Add  solution  of  potassa  or  soda  to  oil  of  thyme, 
agitate  well  for  some  time,  separate  from  the  uncombined  hydro- 
carbon, decompose  the  alkaline  solution  by  hydrochloric  acid,  wash 
the  oily  liquid  with  water,  and  purify  by  distillation.    Thymic  acid,  or 
