UNGUENTUM  SABIN.E. 
433 
UNGENTUM  SABINE. 
By  T.  H.  Bateman. 
To  judge  from  the  limited  demand  for  this  ointment,  it  does 
not  now  find  much  favor  among  the  medical  profession  generally, 
although,  in  the  opinion  of  some  eminent  surgeons,  forming  one 
of  the  best  external  irritants  and  escharotics  we  have,  acting 
much  more  efficiently  in  keeping  open  blisters,  etc.,  than  does 
the  ung.  elemi  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia,  which,  to  some 
extent,  has  taken  its  place. 
Looking  at  this  ointment  from  a  pharmaceutical  point  of  view, 
it  is  exceedingly  unsatisfactory ;  the  specimen  I  have  before  me 
(supplied  by  a  London  wholesale  house)  is  perfectly  rancid,  and 
resembles  in  appearance  "old  green  elder  ointment." 
Dr.  Royle  says,  When  made  in  a  porcelain  vessel,  or  a 
water-bath,  it  is  of  a  yellowish-green  color,  efficient  and  active, 
and  will  keep  good  for  a  long  time,"  which  it  certainly  does  not, 
as  far  as  my  experience  goes. 
The  B.  P.  orders  fresh  savin-tops,  collected  in  spring,  to  be 
used,  thus  compelling  manufacturers  to  make  their  year's  stock 
at  once,  which  is  decidedly  objectionable,  as  it  is  thus  frequently 
sent  out  rancid.  Although  this  condition  does  not  in  any  way 
interfere  with  its  effect  as  an  irritant,  yet  it  prevents  its  coming 
under  the  category  of    elegant  preparations." 
Pharmaceutists  (excepting  those  in  a  large  way)  are  in  the 
habit  of  trusting  to  their  wholesale  druggists  for  it,  the  demand, 
as  a  rule,  being  too  small  to  justify  their  making  even  the 
quantity  ordered  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  ;  besides,  made  on  a  small 
scale,  it  is  exceedingly  wasteful,  the  savin- tops  being  so  bulky  as 
to  render  it  difficult  to  strain  the  ointment  from  them. 
For  satisfaction's  sake  I  have  prepared  some  myself,  adopting 
the  following  somewhat  modified  formula,  which  differs  only  from 
the  B.  P.  in  the  addition  of  gum  benzoin : — 
Eresh  Savin-tops  (bruised)      .       .       .       8  oz. 
Yellow  Wax  3  oz. 
Prepared  Lard       .       .       .       .       .      16  oz. 
Gum  Benzoin  (coarse  powder)  .       .       .       1  oz. 
Melt  the  wax  and  lard  on  a  water-bath,  add  the  gum  benzoin,  and 
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