394 
ON  CITRINE  OINTMENT. 
ON  CITKINE  OINTMENT. 
By  John  S.  Lester. 
Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Dear  Sir, — Being  aware  that  there  have  been  a  great  many 
suggestions  made  at  different  times,  as  to  the  mode  of  preparing 
Ung.  Hydrargyri  Nitratis,  and  that  there  still  exists  much  doubt 
as  to  the  eligibility  of  many  of  the  formulas,  either  in  this  or 
other  countries,  I  take  the  liberty  of  handing  you  the  following 
formula,  which  I  have  used  several  years  with  better  success 
than  from  any  other.  It  may  not  be  new,  but  if  you  should  find 
upon  examination  that  any  advantages  are  to  be  gained,  you 
are  at  liberty  to  publish  it.  The  advantages  which  I  believe  it 
possesses  over  others  are,  the  production  of  a  most  beautiful 
ointment,  both  in  color  and  softness,  the  retention  of  the 
latter  quality  for  any  length  of  time  when  kept  from  the  light, 
and  in  avoiding  the  loss  of  acid  which  takes  place  in  dissolving 
metallic  mercury  in  the  officinal  process.  I  should  be  pleased 
to  have  your  opinion*  as  to  what*difference,  if  any,  follows  the 
use  of  red  oxide  of  mercury,  instead  of  metallic  mercury. 
Take  of  Red  oxide  of  mercury  an  ounce. 
Commercial  nitric  acid  (sp.  gr.  1*38)  three  ounces  av. 
Prepared  lard, 
Olive  oil,  (best)  each  seven  ounces. 
White  wax,  half  an  ounce. 
Dissolve  the  oxide  of  mercury  in  the  acid  by  the  aid  of  a 
gentle  heat,  melt  the  lard  and  wax  in  the  oil  by  a  moderate  heat 
in  a  vessel  capable  of  holding  about  six  times  the  quantity,  and 
while  the  mixture  is  hot,  add  by  degrees  the  mercurial  solution 
also  hot,  and  if  the  mixture  does  not  froth  up,  apply  more  heat 
until  it  does,  then  stir  constantly  until  cool  after  removing  from 
the  fire. 
Appleton,  Wisconsin,  July  14,  1862. 
[*  The  result  will  depend  entirely  on  the  strength  of  the  acid  and  the 
mode  of  proceeding.  When  the  officinal  directions  are  followed  the  mer- 
curial salt  is  a  mixture  of  proto-nitrate  and  per-nitrate  of  mercury  with  free 
nitric  acid.  In  the  above  recipe  per-nitrate  only  exists  with  excess  of 
nitric  acid.  If  the  nitric  acid  used  is  strong,  the  ointment  will  be  more  ac- 
tive than  the  officinal ;  if  weak  it  may  be  less  active.  We  find  no  difficulty 
in  using  the  officinal  process  and  materials.— Editor  Am.  Journ.  Ph.] 
