160      Formulas  from  Pharmacopoea  Germanica.  {^priK.msT*' 
mix  with  the  precipitated  oleate,  a  preparation  was  obtained  whicfe 
retains  its  light  straw  color  and  liquid  consistence  thus  far  without*, 
the  slightest  observable  change.  The  precipitated  oleate  of  mercury^ 
although  not  completely  dissolved  by  the  oil,  remains  mechanically 
mixed  with  it. 
To  prepare  the  oleate  of  mercury  and  morphia,  it  is  only  necessary 
in  preparing  a  pound,  for  instance,  containing  two  per  cent,  of  mor- 
phia, to  dissolve  170  grains  of  basic  morphia  in  six  fluid  ounces  of 
oleic  acid,  or  a  mixture  of  oleic  acid  and  alcohol  at  a  temperature  of 
140°  F.,  and  after  cooling,  to  add  this  solution  of  oleate  of  morpbi& 
to  the  precipitated  oleate  of  mercury  in  making  up  the  weight  of  one- 
pound,  as  in  the  above  process. 
When  the  oleate  of  mercury  is  prepared  from  the  commercial  acid*,, 
as  in  the  above  process,  it  is  necessarily  contaminated  with  combina- 
tions of  the  mercury  with  other  fatty  acids,  even  when  the  acid  had 
been  expressed  after  exposure  to  a  low  temperature.  But  this  will 
hardly  affect  the  therapeutical  value  of  the  preparation,  as  the  combi- 
nation of  the  fatty  acid  evidently  only  offers  the  mercurial  in  a  favor- 
able form  to  be  absorbed  when  externally  applied,  without  otherwise 
adding  to  its  efficacy. 
Regarding  the  quantities  of  material  in  the  formula,  I  would  addIV 
in  conclusion,  that  the  calculated  quantities  of  potassa  and  oleic  acid 
sufficient  to  precipitate  the  nitrate  of  mercury,  was  found  to  be  182! 
grains  of  potassa  and  917J  grains  of  oleic  acid,  but  the  increase  in  the 
above  formula  was  adopted  to  insure  complete  precipitation  of  the 
mercury,  the  excess  of  soap  being  easily  washed  out  afterwards.  The 
quantity  of  nitric  acid  is  also  in  excess  of  the  calculated  quantity,  be- 
ing the  quantity  found  requisite  in  practice. 
Baltimore,  March  IMi,  1873. 
SELECTED  FORMULAS  FROM  PHARMACOPCEA  GERMANICA. 
By  the  Editor. 
(Continued  from  page  109  of  last  number.) 
Fel  Tauri  depuratum  siccum.    Equal  parts  of  fresh  ox  gall  and  U0! 
per  cent,  alcohol  are  mixed,  the  precipitate  separated,  and  the  alcohol 
recovered  by  distillation.    The  residuary  liquid  is  treated  with  puri- 
fied animal  charcoal  until  it  becomes  yellowish,  when  it  is  filtered,, 
evaporated  and  powdered.    100  parts  of  fresh  yield  about  7  parts  of 
purified  ox  gall. 
