Ointment of Master-wort. Syn. Pommade anti-cancéreuse de Milius; Unguentum
imperitoriæ, L. Prep. (Beasley.) Powdered master-wort (Imperatoria Ostruthium), 11⁄2 oz.; tincture of master-wort, 1 oz.; lard, 2 oz.
Ointment of Matico (Mr Young). Syn. Unguentum matico. Prep. Powdered matico, 3 drams; opium, 3 gr.; lard, 1 oz.
Ointment, Mercu′′rial. Syn. (Strong MERCURIAL OINTMENT, Blue o., Neapolitan o.; Unguentum hydrargyri—B. P., Ph. L. E. & D., U. h. fortius, U. cæruleum.) Prep. 1. (B. P.) Mercury, 16; prepared lard, 16; prepared suet, 1; rub together until metallic globules cease to be visible. See also Ointment, Mercurial (Compound).
2 (Ph. L. & E.) Mercury; 1 lb.; lard, 111⁄2 oz.; suet, 1⁄2 oz.; rub the mercury with the suet and a little of the lard, until globules are no longer visible; then add the remaining lard, and triturate altogether.
3. (Ph. D.) Pure mercury and lard, of each 1 lb.; as before.
Pur., &c. The ‘stronger mercurial ointment’ of the shops is usually made with a less quantity of mercury than that ordered by the Colleges, and the colour is brought up with finely ground blue black or wood charcoal. This fraud may be detected by its inferior sp. gr., and by a portion being left undissolved when a little of the ointment is treated first with ether or oil of turpentine, to remove the fat, and then with dilute nitric acid, to remove the mercury. When made according to the instructions of the Ph., its sp. gr. is not less than 1·781 at 60° Fahr. It “is not well prepared so long as metallic globules may be seen in it with a magnifier of 4 powers.” (Ph. E.) When rubbed on a piece of bright copper or gold, it should immediately give it a coating of metallic mercury, and a silvery appearance.
The Ung. hyd. fort. of the wholesale houses is generally made of mercury, 12 lbs., suet, 11⁄2 lb., and lard, 161⁄2 lbs. It thus contains only 1⁄3 instead of 1⁄2 its weight of mercury. That of the same houses labelled ‘Ung. hyd. partes æquales’ is prepared with mercury, 12 lbs.; suet, 11⁄2 lb.; lard, 131⁄2 lbs.
Uses. This ointment is chiefly used to introduce mercury into the system when the stomach is too irritable to bear it; in syphilis, hepatic affections, hydrocephalus, &c. For this purpose, 1⁄2 to 1 dr. is commonly rubbed into the inside of one of the thighs until every particle of the ointment disappears. This operation is repeated night and morning until the desired effect is produced, and should be, if possible, performed by the patient himself. During its administration the patient should avoid exposure to cold, and the use of fermented or acidulous liquors, and his diet should consist chiefly of toast, broth, gruel, milk-and-water, and other inoffensive matters. This ointment has been employed to prevent the ‘pitting’ in smallpox; and, diluted with 3 or 4 times its weight of lard, in several skin diseases,
as a dressing for ulcers, to destroy pediculi, &c. Camphor is often added to this ointment to increase its activity. With the addition of a little extract of belladonna, or hydrochlorate of ammonia, it forms an excellent anodyne and resolvent friction in painful syphilitic tumours and glandular enlargements.