PREPARATIONS
UNGUENTUM ZINCI OXIDE—OINTMENT OF ZINC OXIDE
Composed of zinc oxide, 200 parts; benzoinated lard, 800 parts.
Actions and Uses.—Used chiefly as a dusting powder for wounds and excoriated surfaces; used alone or conjoined with boric acid, subnitrate of bismuth, calomel or in the form of the zinc oxide ointment is desiccant, mildly astringent and protective; it is sometimes used in chorea, epilepsy and other nervous diseases; to check excessive sweating and in diarrhoea. Used extensively in wounds and diseases of the cow’s udder.
ZINCI ACETAS—ZINC ACETATE
Derivation.—Dissolve zinc oxide in diluted acetic acid and boil. Evaporate and crystallize.
Properties.—Soft, white, six-sided monoclinic plates, of a pearly lustre, having a faintly acidious odor and an astringent metallic taste. Soluble in water and in alcohol.
Dose.—Same as zinc sulphate.
Action and Uses.—The same as zinc sulphate; it is the acetate of zinc which is the soluble agent in white lotion, caused by the acetate of lead and sulphate of zinc changing their composition.
ZINCI CHLORIDUM—ZINC CHLORIDE
Derivation.—Dissolve zinc in hydrochloric acid by boiling. The solution contains the zinc chloride with chlorides of iron and lead as impurities. These are precipitated by adding first nitric acid then zinc carbonate. Filter and finally evaporate.
Properties.—A white, granular powder, or porcelain-like masses, irregular or moulded into pencils; odorless; of such intensely caustic properties as to make tasting dangerous unless the salt be dissolved in much water, when it has an astringent, metallic taste; very deliquescent; soluble in water and alcohol.
LIQUOR ZINCI CHLORIDE—SOLUTION OF ZINC CHLORIDE
Derivation.—Made from zinc chloride and water. It should contain about 50 per cent, by weight, of the salt. Zinc chloride is used externally only.
Properties.—A clear, colorless, liquid, odorless, having a very astringent, metallic taste.
Action and Uses.—Is caustic and escharotic, used full strength or in a strong solution; penetrates very deeply and causes deep sloughing; an irritant and corrosive poison; mild medical solutions are antiseptic and astringent; is also disinfectant and deodorizer. Can be used as a caustic when indicated; used with caution, for granulations in chronic ulcers and foot-rot in sheep; to slough out all kinds of fistula, usually mixed with one or two parts of flour made into a paste with water, two ounces in a pint of water is injected as a caustic into fistulous tracts; two or three per cent solution or two to four drachms to the pint of water is used for ordinary astringent purposes and as a parasiticide.