94  Revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.   { AniFeb.?iS5arm' 
been  deemed  advisable  to  reduce  the  amount.  If  200  cc.  had  been 
directed  in  place  of  190  cc  ,  the  product  would  have  been  about  one 
kilogramme.  The  addition  of  borax  materially  improves  the  appear- 
ance of  this  ointment.  The  directions  for  the  addition  of  the  rose 
water  are  that  the  entire  amount  is  to  be  added  to  the  waxes  and  oil 
previously  melted  and  poured  into  a  mortar,  "  without  stirring  and 
then  to  stir  rapidly  and  continuously  until  the  mixture  becomes 
uniformly  soft  and  creamy."  The  addition  of  20  per  cent,  of  water 
to  the  melted  fats  must  necessarily  cause  congealing  of  the  wax 
and  separation  in  masses,  which  would  be  nigh  impossible  to 
beat  to  a  smooth  mass.  The  rose  water  should  be  directed  to  be 
warmed  to  the  temperature  of  the  fusing  of  the  waxes  before  being 
added. 
The  directions  given  under  Iodine  Ointment  and  Iodoform  Oint- 
ment that  they  should  be  freshly  made  when  required  might  like- 
wise have  been  applied  to  such  ointments  as  those  of  tannic  acid, 
potassium  iodide  and  the  mercuric  oxides. 
The  addition  of  castor  oil  in  Ointment  of  Red  Mercuric  Oxide 
serves  well  both  as  an  aid  in  triturating  the  oxide  and  in  preserving 
the  ointment  from  oxidation. 
A  mixture  of  yellow  wax  and  lard  replaces  suet  in  Tar  Ointment. 
A  mixture  of  wax  and  lard  is  less  easily  absorbed  than  suet  and 
as  the  stimulating  effect  resulting  from  this  absorption  is  desired 
we  would  prefer  the  old  formula. 
Sulphur  Ointment  is  now  directed  to  be  prepared  with  washed 
sulphur  instead  of  sublimed  sulphur.  The  small  amount  of  acid 
present  in  the  latter  from  oxidation  has  heretofore  been  looked 
upon  rather  as  desirable  in  this  ointment. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  of  1880  directed,  that  in  Veratrine  Ointment 
the  veratrine  should  be  rubbed  up  with  alcohol  before  incorporating 
with  the  benzoinated  lard.  It  was  found  that  this  always  resulted 
in  the  production  of  a  resinous  mass  which  it  was  almost  impossible 
to  evenly  disseminate.  The  Pharmacopoeia  of  1890  directed  six  per 
cent,  of  olive  oil  in  place  of  the  alcohol.  Both  of  these  are  unneces- 
sary additions  and  in  summer  time  the  latter  especially  would  render 
the  ointment  too  soft.  The  veratrine  should  be  directed  to  be  rubbed 
up  with  about  one-tenth  of  the  lard  to  a  smooth  paste  and  this  then 
incorporated  with  the  balance. 
The  directions  for  Ointment  of  Zinc  Oxide  are  to  sift  the  zinc 
