GELATINE FOlt BOTTLE CAPSULES. 
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be very little variety in appearance, which variety in some businesses is almost 
a necessity: variety lends a charm to most things, and assuredly to the appear¬ 
ance of the shop of a pharmaceutist, a perfumer, or an oil and Italian warehouse¬ 
man, by whom a large amount of capsules have been used. These are some of 
the drawbacks to metallic capsules, to say nothing of any vexation on their 
account from other sources. 
In gelatine we have a substance which, in the matter of capping, may be 
turned to account in more ways than one ; still there are some obstacles in the 
way to perfection, but only such as may be overcome. There is room left by the 
writer of the ‘ Temple Bar ’ article for a considerable amount of practical work¬ 
ing. It would seem, upon the first reading, that it is only requisite to melt the 
gelatine, colour it to taste, dip in the corks and necks of the bottles, and in a 
twinkling, like the tricks in a pantomime, the thing is done. Let us see what 
really occurs. Having melted the gelatine with as little water as necessary, and 
if any dirt be present having strained it, the requisite quantity of glycerine 
being added, and also some liquid cochineal to give a tint; the cork and neck 
of the bottle is dipped into it, taking care to have plenty of the material and 
sufficient room for the bottle 5 and the result is this, that, there being no slanting 
side-walls to the corks, the melted gelatine sticks about the cork, runs down the 
sides over the rim of the neck of the bottle, and gives, to say the least, a very 
unsightly appearance. If the cork is cut flush with the mouth of the bottle, a 
better thing is made 5 but the solution being transparent, although coloured, 
the top of the cork or bung shows through, and has by no means a neat look. 
It is obvious that this latter part is to be remedied by making the solution 
opaque, either with white-lead, gamboge, dragon’s-blood, or vermilion, as may 
be seen by bottles on the table. If the cork is to be left long, as in most bottles 
containing liquids, then the side-walls, so as to form a perfect capsule, must be 
first made by tying over with membrane, leather, or paper, and then by dipping 
either into the transparent or opaque solution, and thus a very good substitute 
for a capsule can be made; but as yet there is nothing to indicate any particular 
article or maker; there is nothing to prove that the covering has not been taken 
off and afterwards re-tied and dipped. lo meet this want, and it is a want, 
because most capsuled articles are proprietary ones,—the transparent solution, 
either plain or coloured, must alone be used 5 any name, device, band, 01 trade¬ 
mark may be first affixed, and then the dipping should take place. Coloured 
leather can be employed, as in some of the samples. I may mention that gene¬ 
rally two dippings will suffice for paper and skin, and three for leather, as that 
substance absorbs more 5 but it depends upon the strength of the solution, and 
a little practice will do more than a whole written volume in producing expert¬ 
ness. For the opaque capsule, where a name is not material, Russian glue will 
answer as well as gelatine, and at a considerably less cost. Amongst the various 
specimens which 1 have brought, there is one with aloes, for the especial patron¬ 
age of the insects. I think I hear some one say, IIow about the cost. To this I 
am not quite prepared with an answer, but I do not think it could equal that 
of metal; something less than a shilling would pay for all the gelatine I have 
here used, say 60 to 70 bottles. I think another inquires, How long have they 
been done ? Many in the early part of December, six or seven weeks, and these 
appear as perfect now as then. I must just say another word in favour 0 
gelatine. When the bottle is to be opened, if the cork has been made short, it is 
only necessary to cut through the gelatine, which is easily done, and then re¬ 
move the cork in the usual way : no pieces will fall amongst the contents. I or 
bottles with long corks, and covered with any of the materials mentioned, cut 
the capsule round and remove it, but it cannot be used again for the same or 
any other bottle, and is thus, with a proper mark or label, a certain and perfect 
protection against the probability of the bottle being refilled with a substitute 
