20  ON  EMPLASTRUM  PICIS  CUM  CANTHAMDE. 
much.  But  I  believe  the  same  skill  in  the  use  of  podophyllum 
would  find  that  better  for  most  of  the  uses  to  which  it  is  ap- 
plied. You  are  fully  at  liberty  to  use  any  and  all  the  above 
just  as  you  please,  and  I  have  been  a  little  careful  about  the 
statements  in  order  that  you  may  safely  use  them." 
From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  writer  advocates  a  more 
powerful  carminative  ingredient  and  the  union  of  the  whole 
mass  as  an  extract  before  powdering ;  and  when  we  consider 
the  risk  of  not  getting  the  powders  intimately  and  uniformly 
mixed  by  the  present  method,  and  the  very  good  reasons, 
pharmaceutic  and  therapeutic,  offered  by  Dr.  Squibb  in  favor 
of  the  combination  method,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  recommend 
its  adoption,  and  would  suggest  to  physicians  the  propriety  of 
using  oil  of  cloves  or  capsicum  as  an  addition  to  the  extract 
in  pilular  form,  to  correct  its  griping  tendency. 
ON  EMPLASTRUM  PICIS  CUM  CANTHARIDE. 
By  Geo.  C.  Close. 
The  question  referred  to  me  for  an  answer  is  : 
.What  change  can  be  made  in  the  composition  of  Emplastrum  Picis 
,  eum  Cantharide  that  will  render  its  consistence  firmer  in  warm  weather  ? " 
It  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  Pharmacopoeia  that  this 
plaster  is  directed  to  be  made  by  melting  together,  in  a  water 
bath,  43  troyounces  of  Burgundy  pitch,  with  4  troy  ounces  of 
cerate  ©f  Cantharides.  It  appears  to  me  that  the  want  of  firm- 
ness in  the  above  composition,  when  exposed  to  the  summer  heat, 
must  depend  upon  the  proportion  of  lard  contained  in  the  cerate 
of  Cantharides.  To  obviate  this  I  propose  to  substitute  the  Bur- 
gundy pitch  plaster  for  the  Burgundy  pitch,  and  to  add  Cantha- 
rides in  powder,  instead  of  cerate  of  Cantharides. 
The  formula  would  then  be — take  of  Emplastrum  Picis  Bur- 
gundies 50  .troy  ounces  and  320  grains ;  Cantharides,  in  very 
fine  powder,  1  troy  ounce  and  160  grains.    Melt  the  plaster  by 
means  of  a  water  bath,  then  add  the  Cantharides  and  stir  con- 
,  stantly  until  the  mixture  begins  to  thicken  on  cooling. 
The  above  quantities  may  be  reduced  as  follows : 
Emplastrum  Picis  Burgundicae  5  troy  ounces  and  32  grains ; 
