1. Read and translate the text: Preparation of ointments

Between 2 and 4 grams of an ointment may be lost in the compounding process. The ointment is lost as it adheres to beakers, ointment tiles, or ointment pads. To compensate for this loss, make an excess of the ointment. Some general rules might be to add 10% or 3 grams excess to the prescribed amount.

When heat is used to melt ingredients, use a water bath or special low temperature hotplate. Most ingredients used in ointment bases will liquefy around 70 ̊ C. These two heating devices provide adequate control over heating and will ensure that the ingredients are not over heated. A water bath will only heat to the boiling point of water which is 100 ̊ C. Special “low temperature” hotplates (full range is 25 ̊̊ C to 120 ̊ C) are not a standard laboratory type hotplate; those hotplates heat at 125 ̊ C to 150 ̊ C at their lowest setting.

When both an oil aqueous phase are being mixed together to make an ointment, it is helpful to heat the aqueous phase a few degrees higher than the oil phase prior to mixing. The aqueous phase tends to cool faster than the oil phase and may cause premature solidification of some ingredients. However, use the lowest temperature possible and keep to time of heating as short as possible. This will minimize the quantity of water lost through evaporation.

When melting a number of ingredients, melt the ingredient with the highest melting point first. Then gradually reduce the heat to melt the ingredient with the next lowest melting point. Continue this process until all ingredients have been added. This will ensure that the ingredients were exposed to the lowest possible temperature and thus enhance the stability of the final product.

The cooling step in an ointment’s preparation is an important part of the compounding.

III. Answer the questions:

1. What may be lost in the compounding process?

2. What is done to compensate the loss of ointment?

3. What is added to the prescribed amount of ointment?

4. What does provide adequate control in preparing ointments?

5. What will minimize the quantify of water lost?

6. What is the first meltiny process?

7. What will ensure the enhance the stability of the final product?

IV. Match the adjectives from the text with appropriate nouns.

compounding	rules
general	solidification
heating	point
aqueous	temperature
premature	product
highest	phase
lowest	devices
final	process

V. Study the following word combinations:

1)ointment n.; healing ointment; expensive ointment; prescribed ointment.

2) to adhere v.; to adhere to the surface; to adhere to skin; to adhere to underlaying tissue.

3) aqueous adj.; aqueous alcoholic extract; aqueous base; aqueous caustic soda; aqueous humor.

4) solidification n.; solidification point; solidification stage.

5) cool adj.; cool solution; cool ointment; cooling step.

VI. Retell the text

VII. Read and translate the text extract below.

Ointments can be prepared either by mechanical incorporation or by fusion methods. In any case, ointments should be smooth and free from granular or gritty particles. In compounding of ointments, the following general considerations are observed.

If insoluble substances are to be incorporated in the ointment base then they should be in impalpable powder form.

For efficient incorporation of insoluble substances they should first be levigated with a little quantity of base to form a smooth cream and then incorporated into the remainder of the base.

Water-soluble salts are best incorporated by dissolving them in a small quantity of water and then incorporating in the base.

Drugs soluble in ointment bases may also be incorporated by fusion (melting the highest melting point ingredient of the base and mixing the medicament into it). Remaining ingredients are then added and mixed by stirring.