Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Jan.  1,  1873.  J 
Oleate  of  Mercury  and  Morphia. 
3 
small  loss  always  occurs),  we  first  calculate  the  amount  of  Hg02,  to 
which  the  thirty  grains  Hg  correspond  : 
200  Hg :  30  =  216  Hg02,  :  x 
X  =  32.4  grains. 
The  solution,  therefore,  weighing  1698  grains,  only  contains  159.6 
grains  of  Hg02,  or  9.4  per  cent. 
This  solution  is  now  to  be  reduced  to  the  strength  of  six  per  cent,  by 
the  addition  of  more  oleic  acid,  until  it  weighs  2660  grains,  but  we 
also  want  two  per  cent,  of  morphia.  The  balance  wanting  (2660 — 
1698  =962  grains)  is  obtained  by  dissolving  fifty-three  grains  of 
morphia  in  909  grains  of  oleic  acid  and  adding  it  to  the  first  obtained 
solution  of  1698  grains,  making  a  dark  brownish  red  liquid,  of  sp. 
gr.  0.975  at  60°  F,  and  containing  six  per  cent.  (159.6  grains)  of 
Hg02,  and  two  per  cent.  (53  grains)  of  morphia. 
It  is  scarcely  ever  used  for  the  purpose  of  producing  the  constitu- 
tional effects  of  mercury,  but  rather  as  a  resolvent  for  articular 
anchylosis,  and  it  has  produced  excellent  effects  in  cases  of  chronic 
articular  rheumatism  and  in  gout,  by  removing  the  stiffness  and  pro- 
ducing flexibility  of  the  joint. 
New  York,  Nov.  18,  1872. 
Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  succeeded  in  obtaining 
a  sample  of  oleic  acid  in  this  city,  which  dissolves  the  oxide 
completely,  and,  if  previously  separated  by  cooling  from  the  solid 
acids,  does  not  produce  the  least  reduction.  I  also  found  that  a  much 
lower  degree  of  heat  is  sufficient  to  effect  solution,  (160° — 180°  F.). 
A  lot  of  oxide  of  mercury  mixed  with  half  its  weight  of  carbonate 
was  employed  in  a  few  instances,  and  gave  even  better  results  than 
the  oxide  alone.  The  resulting  product,  made  with  this  kind  of  oleic 
acid,  is  of  the  consistence  of  thin  cream  and  of  a  light  brownish  yel- 
low color. 
A  sample  of  the  English  oleic  acid,  expressly  imported  by  a  friend, 
gave  invariably  a  greater  or  lesser  reduction,  and  so  do  all  the  other 
varieties  which  I  have  hitherto  tried,  with  the  exception  of  the  last. 
As  soon  as  I  have  traced  the  latter  to  its  source  I  shall  not  fail  to 
make  it  known. 
New  York,  Dee.  15,  1872. 
