Chap. XLL Of Liniments, §c.

643

Unguentum sulphuris composituM. Loud.Compound Sulphur Ointment.Take of

Sublimed sulphur, half a pound;White hellebore root, in powder, two ounces;Nitrate of potass, one drachm;Soft soap, half a pound ;Prepared lard, a pound and a half.Mix.

Sulphur is a certain remedy for the itch, more safe thanmercury. A pound of ointment serves for four unctions.The patient is to be rubbed every night, d fourth part of thebody at each time. Though the disease may be thus curedby a single application, it is in general advisable to touch theparts most affected for a few nights longer, and to conjoinwith the frictions the internal use of sulphur.

Unguentum acidi nitrosi. Ed.Ointment of Nitrous Acid.Take of

Hogs lard, one pound ;Nitrous acid, six drachms.Mix the acid gradually with the melted axunge, and diligent-ly beat the mixture as it cools.

Dub.Take of

Olive oil, one pound ;

Prepared hogs lard, four ounces;

Nitrous acid, one ounce, by weight.Having melted the oil and lard together in a glass vessel, add

the acid; digest with a moderate heat, in a water-bath,

for a quarter of an hour; then remove them from the bath,

and stir them constantly with a glass rod, until they get

stiff.

The oil and axunge in this ointment are oxidized ; for du-ring the action of the acid upon them, there is a great deal ofnitric oxide gas disengaged. It acquires a yellowish colour,and a firm consistency, and forms an efficacious and cheapsubstitute, in slight cutaneous affections, for the ointment ofnitrate of mercury.

B