Am  Jour.  Phabm.  ) 
Jan.  1, 1874.  j 
On  the  Oleo-Stearates,  etc. 
29 
For  this  purpose  a  solution  of  almond  soap  is  added  in  small  por- 
tions to  a  solution  of  some  soluble  salt,  with  the  base  of  which  it  is 
desired  to  obtain  an  oleo-stearate,  until  a  precipitate  is  formed.  Care 
must  be  taken  always  to  employ  an  excess  of  the  solution  of  soap,  the 
presence  of  which  excess  is  recognized  by  the  milky  tint  of  the  su- 
pernatant fluid,  the  latter  being  clearly  separated  from  the  precipi- 
tated oleo-stearate. 
That  metallic  salt  should  be  chosen  which  precipitates  most  easily: 
thus,  for  iron  or  copper  the  sulphate,  for  mercury  the  per-nitrate, 
should  be  used  ;  avoiding  in  the  latter  an  excess  of  nitric  acid,  which 
possesses  the  property  of  decomposing  the  alkaline  soap  and  setting 
free  the  fatty  acids. 
For  the  oleo-stearates  of  the  alkaloids  as  proposed  by  M.  Tripier, 
the  chlorides  of  morphia,  quinia,  etc.,  are  used. 
The  salts,  as  we  have  said,  offer  as  pharmaceutical  preparations 
several  advantages,  which  have  been  pointed  out  by  various  writers, 
particularly  M.  Jeannel.  * 
They  allow,  by  their  easy  solubility  in  fatty  substances,  the  prep- 
aration of  ferruginous  oils,  and  pomades  containing  active  principles 
(oleo-stearates  of  morphia,  quinia,  etc.),  where  the  state  of  solution  in 
the  excipient  in  which  they  exist  makes  them  preferable  to  similar 
preparations  where  the  active  principles  are  incorporated  by  simply 
mixing  or  are  dissolved  in  water,  and  are  perhaps  much  less  easy  of 
absorption. 
Finally  the  oleo-stearates  lend  themselves  successfully  to  various 
therapeutical  applications.    To  give  a  single  example,  we  may  cite 
the  oleo-stearate  of  zinc,  which  mingled  with  a  convenient  quantity  of 
an  unctuous  excipient,  as  in  the  following  formula,  gives  excellent 
results  in  the  treatment  of  chronic  eczema  accompanied  by  itching : 
R.  Oleo-stearate  of  zinc  (dry),  3  parts  ; 
Mutton-suet,  15  parts; 
Oil  of  sweet  almonds,  15  parts. 
Slowly  incorporate  the  oleo-stearate  of  zinc  with  one  part  of  the 
oil  of  almonds  in  a  slightly  warmed  porcelain  mortar,  and  add,  little 
by  little,  the  melted  and  partially  cooled  mixture  of  the  remainder  of 
the  oil  with  the  suet. — Medical  Times  (Philadelphia),  Nov,  1,  1871. 
