198 PHARMACEUTICAL BACTERIOLOGY. 



venient, but all things considered the burette is recommended. The points 

 to be kept in mind are. 



a. The finished ampul should not be more than three-quarters full. 

 The length (of untapered portion of tube) of a neat looking ampul is about 

 three or four times the diameter of the tubing used. 



b. In filling, introduce at least 10 per cent, more than the actual dose 

 required, that is, the i c.c. tube should contain i.io c.c.; the 5 c.c. tube should 

 contain 5.50 c.c. of the medicinal substance, etc. This is to make sure that 

 the physician may get a full i c.c., 5 c.c., etc., dose after allowing for unavoid- 

 able loss (portion clinging to inside of ampul, remaining in narrowed ends, 

 etc.). 



c. In filling do not allow any of the liquid to come in contact with the 

 upper end (open end) of the tube as that would interfere with sealing. 



There are many different methods for filling ampuls which may be 

 classed under three heads; filling by gravity, by pressure, and by vacuum; 

 the latter two being but modifications of the same principle involved. There 

 are on the market (France, Holland, Germany) several devices made ex- 

 pressly for filling and sealing ampuls. 



F. Sealing the Filled Half Ampuls. This is done by means of suitable 

 side-flame blow-pipe burner, pinching together and drawing out the soft end 

 of the glass by means of pincers and sealing in same manner as the other end. 

 Do not upend the ampul until it is cool, to avoid cracking the glass. 



G. Sterilizing the Ampuls. The hypodermic and other solutions usually 

 put up in ampuls can be divided into three classes or groups according to 

 the degree of heat which may or must be used in sterilizing, namely, those 

 which cannot withstand a temperature above 60 C., those which can be 

 sterilized at 100 C., and those which may be sterilized in an autoclave at 

 120 C. Inasmuch as the autoclave is rarely usable and also because the 

 ordinary steam temperature (100 C.) will meet all of the requirements of 

 the autoclave, the latter piece of apparatus may be left out of consideration 

 by the practising pharmacist. 



To bring about a complete sterilization of the ampuls, the discontinued 

 or fractional method should in all cases be carried out. Place the ampuls 

 in a container (beaker, tumbler, etc.) with water to which enough methyl 

 blue or fuchsin has been added to give it a very marked color and sterilize 

 as follows: If a temperature of 60 C. is to be used, apply this temperature 

 (in incubator with Reichert thermo regulator) for one hour each day for 

 four to eight days. Some manufacturers recommend a period of ten days. 

 If the 100 C. is to be used, apply this temperature (in an ordinary Arnold 

 steam sterilizer) for from 20 to 30 minutes once each day for three days. 

 Should the autoclave be used, an exposure for a period of 20 minutes at 

 120 C. is sufficient to kill all organisms, including spores. 



