Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1900. 
Preparations  of  Soap. 
213 
in  this  mixture  ;  now  gradually  add  the  oil,  stirring  constantly,  the 
idea  being  to  make  an  emulsion  by  means  of  the  added  green  soap. 
After  the  oil  has  been  added,  allow  the  mixture  to  stand  for  some 
time,  so  that  the  strong  alkali  solution  may  react  with  some  of 
the  oil.  After  standing  an  hour  or  two,  gradually  add  the  remain- 
ing portion  of  water,  constantly  stirring  to  avoid  breaking  the 
emulsion.  After  all  the  water  has  been  added,  it  will  be  neces. 
sary  to  stir  the  mixture  occasionally,  to  prevent  its  separating; 
in  the  course  of  another  hour  or  two  the  mixture  will  be  stiff  enough 
to  stand  without  further  attention.  It  will  take  from  twelve  to 
twenty-four  hours  before  the  oil  is  perfectly  saponified,  depending 
largely  on  the  care  exercised  in  making  the  emulsion  and  also  on 
the  temperature  of  the  room.  The  actual  time  necessary  to  look 
after  the  making  of  this  preparation  need  not  exceed  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes ;  no  heat  is  required,  consequently  there  is  no 
danger  from  fire.  The  risk  involved  in  bringing  a  pot  of  linseed 
oil  to  a  boil  over  an  open  fire  is  readily  recognized  and  admitted, 
and  for  this  one  reason  alone  it  would  be  advisable  to  dispense  with 
the  boiling  process,  if  possible.  Add  to  this  the  saving  of  time  and 
the  practical  impossibility  of  spoiling  a  batch  by  carelessness,  it 
will  readily  appeal  to  all  that  this  process  has  much  to  recommend 
it  to  the  working  pharmacist. 
Liquid  Antiseptic  Soap  :  Partly  with  the  idea  of  preventing 
unnecessary  waste  of  green  soap  and  partly  to  offer  the  surgeon 
something  more  efficient  and  at  the  same  time  more  convenient  and 
better  adapted  for  preparing  the  field  of  operation,  as  well  as  the 
hands  of  the  operator  and  his  assistants,  the  following  formula  was 
devised  : 
Green  soap  1,500 
Alcohol   700 
Water   50 
Cresylic  acid   100 
Carbolic  acid   50 
It  will  be  noted  that  this  is  practically  the  Linimentum  Saponis 
Mollis  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  with  the  addition  of  cresylic  and  car- 
bolic acids,  and  the  omission  of  the  oil  of  lavender.  This  mixture 
has  been  in  use  for  more  than  two  years,  and  has  found  much  favor 
not  only  with  the  surgeons,  but  also  with  others,  and  especially  with 
the  pathologists,  who  are  constantly  exposed  to  the  most  virulent 
