64 
ON  BENZOINATED  LARD. 
sequent  drying.  The  benzoin,  after  being  digested  in  the  lard, 
appeared  to  be  unaltered  in  its  sensible  properties. 
One  troy-ounce  of  benzoin  was  macerated  in  four  fluid-ounces 
of  alcohol,  which  dissolved  406  grains.  The  residue  had  no  odor 
of  benzoin,  and  on  being  digested  with  lard  yielded  no  perceptible 
odor  or  color  to  that  substance.  It  was  thus  proved  that  lard 
will  not  dissolve  any  portion  or  principle  from  benzoin  that  alco- 
hol will  not  also  dissolve.  It  was  also  proved,  by  repeated  trials, 
that  16  troy-ounces  of  lard  will  not  dissolve  and  retain  more  than 
90  grains  of  benzoin  by  the  process  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  for 
ointment  of  bejizoin. 
After  several  trials  the  following  formula  was  adopted  as  the 
best  one  for  benzoinating  lard  : 
Benzoinated  Lard. 
Take  of  Tincture  of  Benzoin  four  fluid-drachms. 
Lard,  16  troy-ounces. 
Rub  them  together  until  they  are  thoroughly  mixed ;  then 
melt  the  mixture  by  a  gentle  heat  and  stir  the  product  constantly 
while  cooling. 
Tincture  of  Benzoin. 
Take  of  Benzoin,  in  coarse  powder,  six  troy-ounces. 
Alcohol,  one  pint. 
Macerate  the  benzoin  with  the  alcohol  until  it  is  dissolved ; 
then  filter  through  paper. 
The  benzoinated  lard  made  by  this  process  is  beautifully  white 
and  smooth,  with  the  odor  of  benzoin  well  marked ;  while  the 
officinal  ointment  of  benzoin  is  almost  always  dirty  white  in 
color,  and  granular  from  long  digestion  in  the  water-bath,  and  if 
heated  over  a  direct  fire  the  benzoin  is  precipitated  upon  the  in- 
side of  the  vessel ;  which  precipitate  cannot  be  re-dissolved  by 
heating ;  while  the  benzoinated  lard  prepared  by  the  above  for- 
mula can  be  heated  to  200°  without  precipitating  the  benzoin, 
and  consequently  can  be  used  in  the  preparation  of  any  of  the 
ointments  of  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
Three  portions  of  mercurial  ointment  were  made.  The  first 
was  prepared  strictly  according  to  the  formula  of  the  Pharmaco- 
poeia. In  the  second,  ointment  of  benzoin  was  substituted  for 
lard.    In  the  third,  benzoinated  lard  wTas  substituted.  These 
