THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 175 



"FILLING AND SEALING SOFT CAPSULES." 



Very few druggists attempt to fill soil capsules, because it involves 

 tedious labor, but occasionally it becomes necessary when liquids are 

 prescribed in capsule form to resort to this method of dispensing. The 

 physician naturally wishes to give his medicine in as convenient and 

 palatable a form as possible, hence soft capsules are very often specified. 



Every drug store should have a set of this simple outfit, which con- 

 sists of strips of wood with openings just the size of the capsule and 

 into which the capsule is placed. 



Select perfect capsules and cut ofl: the top close to the end, leaving 

 a neck of about one-sixteenth of an inch for the seal. Reserve the por- 

 tion clipped off to again close the capsule. Place each capsule in the 

 opening of the sticks furnished and force them in tightly with a match 

 stick. It is always a good plan to prepare a few extra ones as it often 

 happens that some are spoiled in the process. Now fill in by means of a 

 very fine dropper, one that can be placed directly into the capsule, so as 

 to avoid getting any of the material on the outside. 



Powders are often ordered in soft capsules and for that purpose I 

 employ a paper or tin cone or funnel. In the case of powders more 

 patience is required, especially if the powder be light, the same adhering 

 to the sides of the funnel. Powders and liquids are often prescribed 

 to'gether in soft capsules, as, for instance, salol with an oil. In this 

 case, to make a nice appearing product, gently heat the two on a water 

 bath until the salol is dissolved. The powder would eventually dis- 

 solve, but the patient would think it peculiar if he at first saw a solid 

 mass which later became liquid. 



The finishing or sealing of the capsule is easy and pleasant ; the tips, 

 which have been cut off in the beginning, are melted together with a 

 few hard gelatine capsules and a small quantity of water until the mix- 

 ture has a mucilaginous consistence. The capsule may now be tipped 

 by taking a thin stirring rod, dipping the end into the gelatine while hot, 

 and gently rubbing it over the orifice. Be sure that the capsule is per- 

 fectly dry by previously going over it with blotting paper to absorb any 

 liquid that may have got on the outside. A little practice will enable 

 the operator to become quite proficient. 



Another method is to emplo}- a camel's hair brush, smoothing the 

 top of the capsule as in the case of the glass rod. A very rapid way is 

 to employ a wire loop with an opening about a quarter of an inch in 

 diameter. By dipping this loop in the prepared gelatine and placing the 



