458

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

During the whole course of inunction the patient should wear the samedrawers night and day.

When the friction is performed by a second person, the hand shouldbe enveloped with soft oiled pig’s bladder, turned inside out (Codes, op.cit. p. 42). In making use of mercurial frictions, it is to be recollectedthey ought not to be violent, but long continued, and had better becarried on near a fire, in order to promote the liquefaction andabsorption of the ointment. In syphilis, and other diseases in whichour sole object is the constitutional affection, it matters little towhat part of the body the ointment is applied, provided the cuticle bethin (for this inorganized layer offers an impediment to absorption inproportion to its thickness). The internal parts of the thighs are usually,therefore, selected. However, in liver complaints, the inunctions aremade in the region of the organ affected. The occasional use of thewarm bath promotes absorption when the ointment is applied to theskin.

Unguentum Hydrargyri Mitius (Ph. Lond. & Dublin).—Thisis prepared by mixing a pound of strong mercurial ointment with twopounds of lard. It contains a sixth part of its weight of mercury. Thispreparation is applied as a dressing to ulcers and cutaneous diseases.

Ceratum Hydrargyri Compositum (Ph. Lond.: stronger oint-ment of mercury; soap cerate, aa |iv.; camphor, sj. M.)—Its uses aresimilar to those of the following preparation :—

Einimentum Hydrargyri Compositum (Ph. Lond.: strongerointment of mercury ; lard, of each, jiv.; camphor, jj.; rectified spirit,f.5j.; solution of ammonia, f.giv. M.) —It is used (by way of friction)in chronic tumors, chronic affections of the joints, &c., where the objectis to excite the action of the lymphatic vessels. It is stated to causesalivation more readily than the common mercurial ointment, owing tothe camphor and ammonia.

Emplas'trum Hydrar'gyri. — Plas'ter of Mer'cury.

In the London Pharmacopoeia, this is ordered to be prepared by add-ing eight grains of sulphur to a fluidrachm of heated olive oil, stirringuntil they unite. Then rub the mercury with the oil until the globulesare no longer visible, and add a pound of melted lead plaster. Inthis process the sulphur of the sulphurated oil forms with the mercury asulphuret, while the remainder of the metal is mechanically divided.Each drachm of the plaster contains fifteen grains of mercury.

It is supposed to stimulate the lymphatic vessels of the parts to whichit is applied, and is used as a discutient in glandular enlargements andother swellings, whether venereal or otherwise, and also to the region ofthe liver in hepatic complaints. Dr. Wilson Philip {op. cit.) has seen itinduce salivation.

Emplastrum Ammoniaci cum Hydrargyro (Ph. Lond.)—Thisis prepared in a similar manner to the last preparation, except that thegum-resin ammoniacum is substituted for the lead plaster. The prepa-ration of the Dublin Pharmacopoeia consists of ammoniacum, lb. j.; pu-rified mercury, giij.; common turpentine, jij. M. It is a more powerfulcompound than the last, and is employed in the same cases, especially invenereal buboes.