282 
External  Preparations. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1903. 
Salve  Mull. — Under  the  name  of  "  salbenmull,"  salve  mulls,  or 
steatines,  ointments  have  been  introduced  of  higher  fusibilities 
spread  on  porous  cloth,  gauze  or  "  mull  "  by  Dr.  Unna.  These  are 
mixtures  of  suet  with  lard  and  sometimes  wax,  in  such  proportion 
as  to  afford  a  consistence  adapting  them  to  being  easily  spread  when 
heated  without  melting  or  running  when  applied  to  the  body. 
They  are  intended  chiefly  for  epidermatic  effects,  protective  and 
antiseptic,  but  also  for  endermatic,  astringent  and  resolvent  action. 
The  mulls  serve  a  distinct  purpose  in  dermatology,  since  owing 
to  the  porous  character  of  the  fabric  employed,  they  permit  ready 
evaporation  and  thus  prevent  maceration  of  the  epidermis,  which 
usually  occurs  from  the  prolonged  application  of  more  occlusive 
dressings.  Their  value  as  a  form  of  application  in  intractable  skin 
diseases  has  therefore  been  recognized  by  the  highest  authorities  in 
this  special  branch  of  medical  practice.  The  following  are  some  of 
the  most  largely  used  : 
UNGUENTUM  EXTENSUM  HYDRA.RGYRI  CHI,ORIDI  CORROSIVI. 
2  p.  mill. 
R.    Mercuric  chlorid  gr.  iii  |2 
Alcohol  m.  lxxx  5] 
This  solution  is  incorporated  with  the  following  mixture  previously  fused  : 
R.    Benzoated  lard  9iv  51 
Benzoated  suet  3  xxiiss  901 
UNGUENTUM  EXTENSUM  ITkDRARGYRI  CHI,ORIDI  MITIS,   10  PER  CENT. 
R .    Calomel  3  iiss  10 
Benzoated  lard  g  v  20 
Benzoated  suet  3  xviiss  70 
STERILE  SOLQTIONS. 
While  many  pharmacists  are  careful  in  making  solutions,  such  as 
injections,  eye  washes,  gargles,  lotions,  etc.,  the  majority  are  not, 
and  the  result  has  been  that  many  leading  specialists  in  eye  dis- 
eases, for  example,  prepare  and  dispense  their  own  solutions,  assert- 
ing that  only  through  such  procedure  can  they  be  assured  of  com- 
plete asepsis.  The  use  of  compressed  tablets  for  hypodermic  solu- 
tions has  become  general,  chiefly  because  of  their  convenience  and 
portability,  but  no  doubt  also  from  the  fact  that  through  their  use 
solutions  may  be  prepared  extemporaneously  with  fresh  water  as 
pure  as  may  be  obtainable.  In  the  larger  cities  where  the  water 
supply  is  more  or  less  infected,  the  general  practitioner  no  doubt  is 
often  compelled  to  use  the  service  water  instead  of  pure  water,  and 
