COLLODION  IN  PHARMACY. 
217 
water.  To  prevent  unpleasant  contraction,  Venice  turpentine, 
or  balsam  of  fir,  should  be  added  to  the  collodion,  in  the  propor- 
tion of  half  an  ounce  to  the  pint.  The  following  formulas  are 
offered  as  having  proved  satisfactory  : 
lodinal  Collodion. 
Take  of  Iodine,  .  .  .  half  an  ounce. 
Balsam  of  Fir,  «  .  half  an  ounce. 
Collodion,  ...       a  pint. 
Dissolve  the  iodine  and  balsam  in  the  collodion.  This  pre- 
paration I  have  made  for  two  or  three  years  past,  and  it  has 
proved  very  efficient  and  well  adapted  to  the  discussion  of  swelled 
joints,  &c.  The  film  of  cotton  and  balsam  seems  to  direct  the 
action  inwardly,  as,  when  made  of  the  same  strength  as  the  tinc- 
ture, vesication  is  produced. 
Belladonnal  Collodion. 
Take  of  Select  Belladonna  Leaves,  powd.    eight  ounces. 
Ether,       .....    twelve  fluid  ounces. 
Alcohol,  95  per  cent.        .       .    a  sufficient  quantity. 
Balsam  Fir,       ....    half  an  ounce. 
Collodion  Wool,        .       .       .a  drachm. 
Macerate  the  leaves  in  the  ether  mixed  with  four  fluid  ounces 
of  alcohol,  for  six  hours,  pack  in  a  percolator  and  pour  on  alcohol 
until  a  pint  of  tincture  is  obtained;  in  this  dissolve  the  cotton 
and  balsam.  The  collodion  so  obtained  is  of  very  dark  color, 
with  a  strong  odor  of  belladonna,  and  has  the  advantage  over 
the  plaster  of  adhering  perfectly.  A  colorless  collodion  may  be 
made  with  Atropia,  possessing  similar  properties,  and  more 
desirable  when  to  be  applied  to  the  face  or  other  exposed  parts. 
Aconite  and  Conium  may  be  treated  in  a  similar  manner,  care 
being  taken  to  have  the  aconite  root  in  fine  powder.  An  aconital 
collodion,  containing  a  small  portion  of  cantharides,  gave  decided 
relief  in  a  case  of  severe  rheumatism. 
Sulphural  Collodion. 
Take  of  Sublimed  Sulphur,       .       .       .  two  ounces. 
Balsam  of  Fir,      ....  half  an  ounce. 
Collodion,  a  pint. 
Mix. 
