sential for if too hard the ma js may not be divided into pills while if too 

 soft the pills made will not retain their shape and will tend to run together. 



In dispensing a pill, the ingredient present in smallest amount and es- 

 pecially if it is very potent, is first tritrated in the mortar with a gradually 

 increasing quantity of one of the other ingredients. All the other ingre- 

 dients are ground together to a thoroughly smooth impalpable powder be- 

 fore the excipient is added. After the excipient has been thoroughly 

 ground up and mixed with other ingredients (the mortar and pestle should 

 be scraped down several times with a stiff-bladed metal spatula during the 

 process) the mass is scraped together and transferred to the pill machine or 

 is rolled in the hands into a smooth ball, then on the pill tile into a pipe, 

 which must be kept of the same bore throughout its length. By constant 

 rolling the pipe (after its ends have been squared by pressure) is made to 

 reach thr length indicated on the tile for the required number of pills. 

 It is then cut into pill lengths as shown on the tile and each length carefully 

 rounded on the hand or tile with the finger tips. When all the pills are 

 rounded they may be finished by placing them under the pill finisher with 

 a little dusting powder. The finisher is made to describe a figure-of-eight 

 movement until the pills are round. 



Pills must be round, not cracked, and not sticky. If stickiness develop 8 

 during rolling, a dusting powder, starch, talc, or powdered liquorice* 

 may be used on hands and tile. 



Excipients must be added slowly and only as much as is needed. Fluid 

 excipients should be dropped first on the spatula and added only one drop 

 at a time. 



The following are some of the most useful excipients: 



WATER. Of use where there are considerable proportions of aqueous 

 extracts as those of Aloes, or Cascara; where there is a gummy substance 

 as Asafetida, or with those holding Hard Soap. 



GLYCERINE OF TRAGACANTH. One of the best for general use, being 

 powerfully adhesive, at the same time preserving the consistence of the 

 pill and promoting its solution. Tragacanth has large powers for ab- 

 sorbing water. 



SYRUP OF GLUCOSE. Much used in the official pills and particularly 

 where it is not necessary to confer much adhesiveness to the mass. 



EXTRACT OF MALT. Makes a good excipient for general use, not being 

 eligible of course in those pills where vegetable substances are to be avoided 

 as with pills of Silver Nitrate. 



POWDERED LICORICE ROOT AND POWDERED EXTRACT OF LICORICE. 

 These possess mild adhesiveness. The former because of its absorbent power 



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