Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Home › Patent And Proprietary Medicines › Physic's Issue Ointment
Physic's Issue Ointment
Powdered cantharides, 1/2 ounce; rose water, 2 fluid ounces; tartar emetic, 15 grains. Apply heat and evaporate the rose-water one-half; strain, and add olive oil, 3 ounces; white wax, 14 ounces; spermaceti, 1 ounce. Mix, and apply a gentle heat until all the water has been driven off. When the manipulations have been conducted with care, the cerate is light in color. 5285. Beach's Black Plaster or Healing Salve. Take of olive oil, 3 quarts; common resin, 3 ounces; bees'-wax, 3 ounces.
Melt these articles together, and raise the oil almost to boiling heat; then gradually add of pulverized red lead 25 pounds, if in the summer; if in the winter, pound less. In a short time after the lead is taken up by the oil, and the mixture becomes brown or a shining black, remove from the fire, and, when nearly cold, add ounce pulverized camphor.