Commercial potash may be used, but the strength must be ascertained and adjusted by experiment. The soap thus made will be like jelly; it is dissolved in alcohol, 4 to 6 ounces of soap to 2 of alcohol, and after standing a day or two is filtered and perfumed as desired. A rancid oil would be easier to saponify, but the soap would likely be rancid or not as good.
II.—Ammonium sulphoichthyolate, 10 parts; distilled water, 15 parts; hebra’s soap spirit (a solution of potash soap, 120 parts, in 90 per cent spirit, 60 parts; and spirit of lavender, 5 parts), 75 parts.
Medicated Soaps.
First make up a suitable soap body and afterwards add the medicament. For instance, carbolic soaps may be made as follows:
| I.— | Cocoanut oil | 20 pounds |
|---|---|---|
| Tallow | 4 pounds | |
| Soda lye (38° to 40°B.) | 12 pounds | |
| Phenol | 1 pound |
Prepare the body soap by stirring the liquefied fat into the lye at 113° F., and when combination has set in, incorporate the phenol and quickly pour into molds. Cover the latter well. Instead of the phenol 2 pounds of sulphur may be used, and a sulphur soap made.
| Parts by weight | ||
|---|---|---|
| II.— | Cotton oil | 200 |
| Alcohol, 91 per cent | 300 | |
| Water | 325 | |
| Caustic soda | 45 | |
| Potassium carbonate | 10 | |
| Ether | 15 | |
| Carbolic acid | 25 | |
The oil is mixed in a large bottle with water, 100 parts; alcohol, 200 parts; and caustic soda, 45 parts, and after saponification the remaining alcohol and the potassium carbonate dissolved in the rest of the water, and finally the carbolic acid and the ether are added and the whole well shaken. The mixture is filled in tightly closed bottles and stored at medium temperature. The preparation may be scented as desired, and the carbolic acid replaced with other antiseptics.