Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of periodontal and other diseases comprises zinc chloride, the active ingredients of sanguinaria and galangal, and purified water as an excipient.Preferred proportions of the constituents are, by weight: zinc chloride 45%; sanguinaria 10.8%; galangal 7.2%; water 37%. These proportions produce a paste, and an excipient such as petroleum jelly may be added in such a proportion as to produce an ointment. Dilution may be effected by the addition of distilled water or gelatin, and a quantity of the order of 2%, by weight, of sodium carboxy-methyl cellulose may be added as a drying agent.The pharmaceutical composition may be administered externally, as a paste or ointment, or may be provided in capsules, with gelatin crystals as a buffer, to be taken orally, or may be administered parenterally.