Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1885. 
} 
Neutral  Oleate  of  Mercury, 
177 
It  begins  to  slowly  decompose  at  this  temperature,  therefore  the 
mercuric  oleate  should  be  formed  in  the  cold.  No  heat  should  be  used^ 
and  an  excess  of  oleic  acid  is  not  only  unnecessary,  but  detrimental  to 
its  keeping  properties.  Free  oleic  acid  has  a  tendency  to  change  to 
an  irritating  oxy-oleic  acid,  which  it  does  at  the  expense  of  the  mer- 
curic oxide,  as  evidenced  by  the  production -of  the  metallic  mercury. 
It  may  be  made  either  from  the  red  or  yellow  mercuric  oxide,  and 
although  the  yellow  w  specified  in  the  existing  formula,  finely  levigated 
red  oxide  will  be  found  preferable,  using  equal  proportions,  viz.,  2f 
parts  of  mercuric  oxide  for  every  5  parts  of  the  best  commercial  oleic 
acid.  It  does  take  a  little  trouble  to  form  the  mercuric  oleate  by  the 
direct  action  of  the  oxide  upon  the  acid,  but  if  we  possess  machinery 
the  process  is  rendered  comparatively  easy.  It  Avould  be  almost  im- 
possible to  make  this  preparation  were  it  not  that,  as  already  explained, 
mercuric  oxide  forms  both  basic  and  acid  compounds.  This  fact 
shortens  the  process,  which  consists  really  towards  its  conclusion  in 
getting  a  semi-solid  substance  (the  acid  oleate  first  formed)  to  act 
chemically  upon  the  remaining  oxide. 
The  keeping  and  non-irritant  properties  of  the  resulting  neutral 
oleate  will  repay  the  trouble  spent  in  the  manipulation. — Fharm.  Jour, 
and  Trans.,  January  17,  1885,  p.  576. 
PiLOCAKPUs. — Dr.  Sidney  Thompson  has  for  several  years  been  treating 
erysipelas  locally  with  the  fluid  extract  of  jaborandi,  and  usually  in  the 
following  prescription  : 
R    Jaborandi  fluid  extract   24  grams 
M.    Sig.    Paint  with  a  feather  every  four  hours. 
The  glycerin  is  necessary,  as  the  jaborandi  has  a  tendency  to  produce  a 
desquamation  if  used  alone  ;  the  laudanum  is  added  simj^ly  to  relieve  pain. 
Therapeutic  Gazette,  Nov.,  1884,  p.  504. 
Dr.  W.  W.  Claybaugh  has  used  a  similar  mixture,  increasing  the  lauda- 
num and  glycerin  each  to  12  grams,  and  reports  favorable  results  in  erisype- 
las,  in  inflammation  caused  by  croton  oil,  and  in  severe  scalding  of  the 
hand  by  a  boiling  liquid  ;  in  the  latter  case  the  inflammatory  action  was 
totally  prevented.— J/ecZ.  and  Surg.  Bep.,  Feb.  7,  1885,  p.  188. 
Glycerin..-. 
Laudanum 
4 
4 
12 
