EMPLASTRUM PLASTERS-RESINOUS. Ammoniaci cum hydrar- Ammoniac, 720 Gm.; Mercury, 180 Gm.; Oleate of Mercury, 8 Gm.; Dilute Acetic Acid, 1000 C.c.; Ext. Arnica Root, 330 Gm.; Resin Plaster, 670 Gm. Burgundy Pitch, 800 Gm.; Olive Oil, 50 Gm.; Yellow Cantharidis Cerate, 80 Gm.; Burgundy Pitch, to make 1000 Gm. PLASTERS-SPREAD. Oleoresin of Capsicum; Resin Plaster. Isinglass, 10 Gm.; Alcohol, 40 Gm.; Glycerin, 1 Gm.; Water, and Tincture of Benzoin, each, sufficient quantity. CHARTA-PAPERS. What are Charta, or Papers? Papers are a small class of preparations intended for external application, made either by saturating paper with medicinal substances, or by applying the latter to the surface of the paper by the addition of some adhesive liquid. There are two official papers : Charta Potassii Nitratis.-Nit. Potas. 20 Gm.; Dist. Water 80 C.c. Immerse strips of white, unsized paper in the solution, and dry them. Charta Sinapis.-Black Mustard, 100 Gm. ; India Rubber, 10 Gm.; Benzin, Carbon Disulphide, of each q. s. Percolate Mustard with Benzin, to rid it of fixed oil; dry. Dissolve India Rubber in mixture of 100 C. c. each, Benzin and Carbon Disulphide; make semi-liquid magma with mustard. Brush on rather stiff, well-sized paper. Each 60 sq. cent. of paper should contain about 4 Gm. black mustard deprived of oil. SUPPOSITARIA-SUPPOSITORIES. What are Suppositories? Suppositories are solid bodies intended to be introduced into the rectum, urethra, or vagina, to produce medicinal action. What are the requirements in preparing them? They should be prepared of materials of sufficient consistency to retain their shape when inserted, and, at the same time, melt at the temperature of the body. Butter of cacao fulfils the requirements. Only in the hottest summer weather should its melting point be raised by the addition of spermaceti or wax unless some softening ingredient is used in making the suppositories. How are Gelatin Suppositories prepared? Gelatin suppositories are made from a mass containing gelatin and glycerin, by soaking gelatin in water, draining off the excess, adding five parts, by weight, of glycerin to every twelve parts of soft gelatin, and heating in a water-bath. The medicating substance is rubbed into a smooth paste with a small quantity of water or glycerin, and added to the mass. By what three methods are Suppositories shaped? By rolling, moulding, and pressing. Describe the method for performing each operation. 1. Rolled Suppositories are made by incorporating the medicinal substance with grated cacao butter in a mortar, with a pestle, until the mixture becomes a mass. The mass is now rolled into a cylinder on a pill tile, SOLIDS-SUPPOSITORIES. 63 thoroughly dusted with lycopodium, and cut into the desired lengths, which are then made into a conical form by rolling one end on the tile with a spatula, so as to produce a rounded point. 2. Moulded Suppositories.—The U. S. P. directs that they shall be made in the following manner: Mix the medicinal portion (previously brought to a proper consistence, if necessary) with a small quantity of Oil of Theobroma, by rubbing them together, and add the mixture to the remaining Oil of Theobroma, previously melted and cooled to the temperature of 35° C. (95° F.). Then mix thoroughly, without applying more heat, and immediately pour the mixture into suitable moulds. The moulds must be kept cold by being placed on ice or by immersion in ice cold water before the melted mass is poured in. In the absence of suitable moulds, suppositories may be formed by allowing the mixture, prepared as above, to cool, care being taken to keep the ingredients well mixed, and dividing the mass into parts of a definite weight each, of the proper shape. What weights and shapes are directed by the U. S. P.? Unless otherwise specified, suppositories should have the following weights and shapes, corresponding to their several uses : Rectal suppositories should be cone-shaped, and of a weight of about 1 Gm. Urethral suppositories should be pencil-shaped, and of a weight of about I gramme. Vaginal suppositories should be globular, and of a weight of about 3 Gm. 3. Pressing. This is usually accomplished by pressing the mass through a cylinder into a mould, without heat. Unsatisfactory. How many Suppositories are official in the U. S. P.? One, Suppositoria Glycerini. Give Formula and Directions for making it. Take of Glycerin, 60 Gm.; of Sodium Carbonate, 3 Gm.; Stearic Acid, 5 Gm.; to make 10 rectal suppositories. Dissolve the Sodium Carbonate in the Glycerin in a capsule on a water-bath, then add the stearic acid, and heat carefully until this is dissolved, and the escape of carbonic acid gas has ceased. Then pour the melted mass into suitable moulds, remove the suppositories when they are cold, and wrap each in tin-foil. These suppositories should be freshly prepared when required. Into what three classes are suppository moulds divided ?* Into: I. Individual moulds. 2. Divided moulds. 3. Hinged moulds. What are Suppository Capsules? "Dr. F. E. Stewart has suggested the employment of gelatin shells, with conical caps, to be used as suppositories. The medicating ingredients are inserted in the lower portion; the upper margin is then moistened with water, and the cap inserted. Before introducing them into the rectum, they should be wet with sufficient water to enable them to slip in easily." What are Urethral Suppositories, or Bougies? They are suppositories usually made of gelatin, in the form of bougies, and used to. medicate the mucous surface of the urethra. They may be prepared by melting together 3 p. gelatin, I p. glycerin, I p. distilled water (by weight), adding the desired medicament, and moulding into cylinders in a welloiled glass tube, afterward cutting the cylinders into the desired lengths. *For excellent descriptions of the various forms of suppository moulds, see Remington's "Practice of Pharmacy." PART III. THE PREPARATIONS OF THE INORGANIC MATERIA MEDICA. HYDROGEN, OXYGEN, AND WATER. Hydrogen and oxygen are colorless, odorless gases, of no special interest pharmaceutically, except that they combine to form water, which is of the greatest importance in pharmacy. Hydrogen is also unity for quan. tivalence and atomic weight. H is combustible; O aids combustion. AQUA, U. S.-Water.-A colorless, limpid liquid, without odor and taste at ordinary temperatures, and remaining odorless while being heated to boiling; of a perfectly neutral reaction. AQUA DESTILLATA, U. S.-Distilled Water.-A colorless, limpid liquid, without odor or taste, and of a neutral reaction. On evaporating 1000 C. c. no residue should remain. In pharmacy, water is used principally as a solvent. AQUA HYDROGENII DIOXIDI, U. S.-Solution of Hydrogen Dioxide, or Peroxide.-An odorless, slightly acid, aqueous solution of Hydrogen Dioxide (H2O2; 33.92) containing, when freshly prepared, about 3 per cent. by weight of the pure Dioxide, corresponding to about IO vol. of available Oxygen, sp. gr. about 1.006 to 1.012 at 15° C. (59° F.). Made by decomposing barium peroxide with phosphoric acid, BaO, + 2H,PO Ba(H,PO4)2 + H2O2. Remove traces of the barium salt in the sol. by the cautious addition of H2SO4. Antiseptic and disinfectant. Keep in cool place. THE INORGANIC ACIDS. I. Acids are distinguished from other bodies by THREE PROPERTIES. They all contain hydrogen, and are sometimes called hydrogen salts. The hydrogen is capable of being replaced by metals to form salts. 2. Those which are soluble in water have a characteristic, sour taste, and corrosive action. 3. They act on litmus and other vegetable substances, changing their color. ments. The inorganic acids will be considered in the following order :Ist. Hydracids, or those not containing O, derived from non-metallic eleEx., HCl, HBr. 2d. The O acids from non-metallic elements. Ex., HNO,,H2SO4, H2SO,, etc. Anhydrides: A class of acid-forming oxides, erroneously termed acids-such as Arsenous Acid, Chromic Acid, Carbonic Acid (CO2), etc. The suffixes " ous " and "ic," are used as terminations to the names of DILUTED HYDROBROMIC ACID. 65 acids containing O; the former denoting a lower proportion of O, the lattter a higher amount. Ex., Sulphurous acid, H2SO, contains less than sulphuric acid, H2SO. Many of the official inorganic acids are solutions of gases in water, the amount of gas in solution varying in the stronger acids; but the official class known as diluted acids are intended to be uniform. Medical Properties.-Tonic and refrigerant in the dilute form; caustic and corrosive poisons when strong. Antidotes. Large amounts of mild alkalies administered with some bland, fixed oil. (Soap, carbonate or bicarbonate of sodium, dissolved in water; after which, draughts of oil.) ACIDUM HYDROCHLORICUM, U. S.-Hydrochloric Acid. Muriatic Acid. HCl. A colorless, fuming liquid, composed of 31.9 per cent. absolute HCl and 68.1 per cent. water, with a sp. gr. 1.163; pungent, suffocating odor; intensely acid taste; strongly acid reaction. Preparation.-Principally as a by-product in the manufacture of sodaash, by decomposing NaCl at a high temperature with H2SO4. The process has two steps: 1st Step. Decomposition of half of the NaCl. 2d Step. Decomposition remaining NaCl at 220° C. NaCl + NaHSO = HCI + Acid Sodium (428° F.), or over. Sodium The yellow color in common hydrochloric acid is due to organic sub. stances, a trace of iron, nitrogen peroxide, or free chlorine. ACIDUM HYDROCHLORICUM DILUTUM, U. S.-Diluted Hydrochloric Acid.-A colorless liquid, containing 10 per cent. of absolute HCl, and prepared by diluting 100 Gm. Hydrochloric Acid with 219 Gm. Distilled Water. Sp. gr. 1.050; odorless; strongly acid taste; acid reaction. ACIDUM HYDROBROMICUM DILUTUM, U. S.-Diluted Hydrobromic Acid. HBr.-A clear, colorless liquid, composed of 10 per cent. absolute HBr and 90 per cent. water. Sp. gr. 1.077; odorless; strongly acid taste; acid reaction. Preparation.-Two methods-Ist, distillation; 2d, double decomposi tion and precipitation. 1st Method (distillation).—Decompose potassium bromide with sulphuric acid. This forms acid potassium sulphate (crystals) and hydrobromic acid (liquid). Separate the liquid HBr from the crystals and distill it in a retort nearly to dryness, then add q. s. distilled water to make the product contain 10 per cent. actual HBr. 2d Method (precipitation).—Add tartaric acid to a solution of potassium bromide (400 gr. acid to 340 gr. bromide in 4 fl. oz. water). Tartrate of potassium precipitates and HBr remains in solution. = ACIDUM HYPOPHOSPHOROSUM DILUTUM, U. S.Diluted Hypophosphorous Acid.-A liquid composed of about 10 per cent. by weight of absolute Hypophosphorous Acid (HPH2O2 65.88), and about 90 per cent. of water. A colorless liquid, without odor, and having an acid taste. Sp. gr. about 1.046 at 15° C. (59° F.). Miscible, in all proportions, with water. ACIDUM NITRICUM, U. S.- Nitric Acid. HNO„. Aqua Fortis. A colorless, fuming, very caustic and corrosive liquid, composed of 68 per cent., by weight, absolute HNO3, and 32 per cent. water (HNO, 62.89); sp. gr. 1.414; peculiar, somewhat suffocating odor; strongly acid reaction. Preparation. By acting on Chili Saltpetre (sodium nitrate) with H2SO. If two molecules of NaNO, and one of H2SO, be taken, the reaction will be as follows: Decomposition of Ist molecule NaNO3. NaNO3 + H2SO4 Sodium Nitrate. = NaHSO4 + HNO3. Nitric Acid. Then by raising the heat, the NaHSO4, acts upon the second molecule of NaNO3. Decomposition of 2d molecule NaNO. There are several varieties of nitric acid in commerce. of 1.414 sp. gr. is termed 43° acid. of 1.355 sp. gr. is called 38° acid. Acid. The official acid The ordinary weaker commercial acid acid, is nitric acid containing more or less nitrogen tetroxide (NO). The same acid may be made by impregnating nitric acid with nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The effect of red heat on nitric acid.-It evolves O, as follows: The Great Characteristic Property of Nitric Acid.-It oxidizes sulphur and phosphorus, giving rise to sulphuric and phosphoric acids, and it oxidizes all the metals with but few exceptions. It is the great oxidizing agent. ACIDUM NITRICUM DILUTUM, U. S.-Dilute Nitric Acid. -A colorless liquid, containing 10 per cent. absolute HNO (14.3 per cent. official nitric acid). Sp. gr. 1.057. Prepared by diluting 100 gm. Nitric Acid with 580 gm. Distilled Water. ACIDUM NITROHYDROCHLORICUM, U. S.-Nitrohydrochloric Acid. Nitromuriatic Acid. Aqua Regia.-A golden-yellow, fuming, and very corrosive liquid, having a strong odor of Cl, and a strong acid reaction, and containing nitrosyl chloride and free chlorine. It is made by mixing together 180 C.c. nitric acid, 820 C. c. hydrochloric |