386 
Remarks  on  some  Ointments. 
j  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I       Sept.,  1875. 
Ung.  ben%oini^  as  prepared  by  the  last  "  Pharmacopoeia,"  is,  without 
doubt,  a  great  improvement  on  the  old  process  of  digesting  the  benzoin 
in  the  heated  fat.  The  present  ointment  possesses  the  advantages  of 
being  lighter  in  color  and  prepared  much  more  expeditiously.  But  in 
the  "  Pharmacopoeia  "  process  there  is  one  defect,  viz.,  that  mentioned 
by  Mr.  Wilder  in  the  September  number,  "  Journal  of  Pharmacy,'^ 
1873,  P^g^  39^-  tincture  and  lard  are  heated  together  until  a 
precipitate  or  deposit  commences  to  form,  and  the  odor  of  alcohol  is 
no  longer  perceived.    Then  strain  the  ointment,  and  stir  until  cold. 
Ung.  Hydrarg.  Ox'id'i  Rub. — The  follovv^ing  formula  yields  an  unob- 
jectionable preparation  : 
Hydrarg.  ox.  rub,,        .  ...  . 
01.  amyg.  dulc,       .....  '^n 
Ung.  benzoini,  .....        ^vi  5vi 
Rub  the  red  oxide  of  mercury  in  a  mortar  to  a  fine  powder,  and 
triturate  well  with  the  oil.  Melt  the  ointment,  and  pour  into  the  mor- 
tar, and  stir  until  cold, 
Ung.  Hydrarg.  Ammon. 
5<.    Hydrarg.  ammon.,        .  .  .  .  •        g^-  32o 
01.  amyg.  dulc,  ....  ^ii 
Ung.  benzoini,  .....        ^vii  ^vi 
Rub  the  ammoniated  mercury  into  a  smooth  paste  with  the  oil,  and 
add  the  unguentum  benzoini,  previously  melted,  and  stir  constantly 
until  cold. 
Cerat.  Plumhi  Sub  Acetath. — This  cerate  is  best  prepared  by  the 
formula  of  Mr.  A.  P.  Brown,  "  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.,"  February, 
1873,  P^S^  When  first  dispensed  some  physicians  found  fault 
about  the  color  of  it,  but  when  it  was  explained  to  them  they  were 
loud  in  their  praises  of  it.    The  following  is  the  formula  : 
R.    Ung.  benzoini,  ......  ^viiiss 
Cerae  flavas,  ......  ^iiiss 
Sol.  plumbi  sub  acetat.,  .....  f^iiss 
Camphorae,  ......  ^.ss 
Melt  the  wax  and  ointment  in  a  water-bath,  add  the  solution  of  sub 
acetate  of  lead  gradually,  digest  for  fifteen  minutes,  stirring  it  constantly^ 
remove  the  mixture  from  the  fire,  stir  it  till  cool  ;  lastly,  add  the  cam- 
phor. 
