222 
Oxygenated  Petrolatum. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1901. 
sive  employment  of  a  number  of  the  possible  compounds  has 
demonstrated  their  usefulness  in  quite  a  variety  of  ways.  To  enu- 
merate some  of  these,  we  may  say  that,  as  a  simple  lubricant  for 
massage,  this  combination  offers  the  advantage  of  being  smoother 
and  more  slippery  than  many  simple  oils,  more  cleanly  than  starch 
or  talcum,  and  in  addition  to  this,  any  excess  is  readily  washed 
away  with  soap  and  water. 
As  a  liniment,  it  makes  a  good  vehicle  for  the  administration  of 
such  drugs  as  chloroform,  camphor,  turpentine  or  any  of  the  vola- 
tile oils.  As  an  inunction,  it  facilitates  the  absorption  of  such 
active  remedies  as  iodine,  creosote,  guaiacol,  ichthyol  and  salicylic 
acid.  As  a  local  application  it  is  useful,  and  makes  an  excellent 
vehicle  for  such  drugs  as  iodoform,  beta-naphthol,  sulphur,  tar  and 
carbolic  acid.  In  addition  to  this,  it  may  be  used  as  a  vehicle  for  the 
internal  administration  of  such  drugs  as  iodine,  guaiacol,  creosote 
and  many  other  more  or  less  caustic  and  irritating  drugs  and  com- 
pounds. 
When  any  of  these  preparations  are  to  be  taken  internally,  the 
patient  should  be  directed  to  put  the  required  dose  of  the  petrox 
compound  into  a  bottle  with  the  required  amount  of  water  or  other 
liquid,  and  give  the  mixture  a  vigorous  shake,  so  as  to  thoroughly 
incorporate  or  emulsify  the  active  ingredient  or  drug  with  the 
liquid. 
In  addition  to  this  liquid  petrox,  a  solid  form,  to  be  used  as  an 
ointment  base,  is  readily  made  by  substituting  a  hard  petrolatum 
for  the  liquid.  For  this  solid  preparation  sufficient  heat  must  be 
applied  to  melt  the  petrolatum,  the  oleic  acid  is  then  added,  and 
just  before  the  mixture  has  cooled  sufficiently  to  set,  the  spirit  of 
ammonia  is  added,  and  the  whole  mass  is  then  stirred  until  cold. 
This  mixture  answers  admirably  for  ointments  where  the  absorption 
of  the  active  medicinal  ingredient  is  the  chief  object  sought,  and, 
therefore,  it  may  be  used  to  advantage  with  such  drugs  as  mercury, 
potassium  iodide,  sodium  salicylate  and  many  others. 
There  are  interesting  possibilities  in  any  or  all  of  these  combina- 
tions and  the  base  itself  is  sufficiently  inexpensive  to  warrant  the 
making  of  a  quantity  by  the  pharmacist,  and  in  turn  calling  the 
attention  of  his  neighboring  physicians  to  its  possibilities,  advan- 
tages as  a  vehicle  for  the  external  and  also  internal  administration 
of  many  active  drugs. 
February,  1901. 
