300  Pharmaeeutical  Notes,  {"^"jLTis^o''"'' 
same  satisfaction  as  it  does  me,  enabling  them  to  accomplish  in  ten 
minutes  what  required  an  hour  or  two  by  the  older  process.  This  is 
accomplished  by  the  addition  of  mercury  and  chalk  (gray  powder)  in 
small  portions  at  a  time  to  the  suet  and  lard,  and  proceeding  in  the 
same  manner  as  directed  in  the  Pharmacopoeia.  The  weight  of  the 
mercury  contained  in  the  gray  powder  used  is  estimated  and  deducted 
from  the  amount  ordered  in  the  formula,  so  as  to  make  an  ointment 
containing  50  per  cent,  of  that  metal. 
The  following  will  be  found  to  produce  such  a  result,  namely: 
R     Mercury,    .  ,  22  troyounces 
Mercury  and  chalk,  •      5  ^  drachms  and  2  scruples 
Suer,  .  .  9  " 
Lard,  .  .11        "  5  drachms  and  i  scruple 
M. 
Rub  the  mercury  and  2  ounces  of  suet  and  a  small  portion  of  the 
tard  together  with  an  ounce  of  the  gray  powder  until  the  globules 
become  invisible;  then  add  the  remainder  of  the  ingredients  in  succes- 
sive portions,  the  suet  having  been  softened  by  heat. 
The  above  named  quantity  of  mercury  and  chalk  contains  2  troy- 
ounces of  the  metal  and  3  ounces,  2  drachms  and  2  scruples  of  chalk. 
This,  therefore,  renders  it  necessary  to  alter  the  proportions  of  suet 
and  lard,  so  as  to  preserve  the  same  consistence  as  the  officinal 
preparation. 
By  adding  the  above  ingredients  together  they  will  be  found  to 
weigh  48  troyounces,  and  will  contain  24  troyounces  of  mercury.  I 
do  not  think  that  the  addition  of  the  prepared  chalk  contained  in  the 
2;ray  powder  can  be  objected  to  for  the  purposes  for  which  the  oint- 
ment is  used.  It  is  certainly  less  objectionable  than  the  addition  of 
fancid  or  irritating  substances. 
How  to  keep  Citrine  Ointmeut  from  Changing. — Most  druggists  have 
experienced  the  difficulty  of  keeping  citrine  ointment  so  as  to  be  able 
to  dispense  it  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  themselves  and  to  their  cus- 
tomers, even  a  few  weeks  after  being  made,  on  account  of  change  in 
color  from  the  bright  lemon  yellow  to  a  rusty  brown,  and  from  its 
becoming  granular  and  friable  by  age.  I  have  found  that  these  diffi- 
culties can  be  overcome  by  allowing  the  freshly  made  ointment  to  be 
covered  by  a  stratum  of  glycerin  about  J  of  an  inch  deep,  so  that  none 
of  it  should  be  exposed  to  the  air.  By  this  means  I  have  preserved 
citrine  ointment  without  change  for  more  than  a  year,  and  I  think  it 
probable  that  it  would  remain  unchanged  for  an  indefinite  period  of 
