ON MEDICATED PESSARIES AND SUPPOSITORIES. 
549 
bullet shape in place of the round balls originally used, it has been generally 
adopted. A trifling exception exists in those cases in which the pessary is 
made the vehicle for the exhibition of chloroform or other fluids ; but as under 
these circumstances the excipient is generally prepared extempore by the medical 
man himself, it scarcely affects the pharmaceutist. 
But in respect to suppositories there is much more to be said. The size 
ordered in the Pharmacopoeia is about 8 grains plus the coating, say 12 grains 
in all, for those containing morphia, and about 14 grains plus the dipping, say 
18 grains in all, for those with tannic acid. And as some chemists are in the 
habit of making them as large as from 25 to 30 grains, the variations met with 
are very liable to cause annoyance. There seems no reason why a uniform 
weight of 15 grains should not be adopted. This would not be too large for 
the medicines given in small doses, whilst a smaller weight would scarcely 
answer for the bulky constituents sometimes ordered. Something like unifor¬ 
mity in size is essential, if we desire to use the same moulds for the preparation 
of the various formulae. A not uncommon prescription consists of 1 grain of 
aloin and 4 or 5 grains of powdered soap, with a sufficient quantity of theo~ 
broma oil, and this may be readily dispensed in a 15-grain mould ; the same 
may be said of the tannic acid and opium suppositories often ordered. Our 
formulae for pill-masses are all constructed with a view to 5-grain pills, and it is 
only asking that the same principle may be carried out in respect to another 
and somewhat similar class of preparations. 
As to the shape , the word u cone ” is, I suppose, intended in a general rather 
than a geometric sense. A somewhat elongated Minie bullet shape is obviously 
an improvement on a direct straight-sided form with sharp-pointed apex. 
It is not uncommon to see both suppositories and pessaries coloured pink. 
Except this be to distinguish particular varieties,—such as, for instance, when 
those containing morphia are kept of two or three different strengths,—I see no 
reason for giving way to fancies. Eo one would think of making pink sper ¬ 
maceti ointment. If colour be desired, a small addition or alkanet oil, or of the 
dark crimson lip-salve, prepared by many chemists, will produce the result. 
I have in these remarks entered somewhat into details, knowing that any 
value they possess can only be in the practical assistance they may afford to 
those who have to perform the processes they are intended to. elucidate. Every 
pharmaceutist ought to be prepared to make either pessaries or suppositories 
when they are ordered by the physician, and should be as particular about the 
neatness and workmanlike appearance of what he turns out as he would be 
about a box of pills or powders. . .... 
It seems to be generally acknowledged that the list of suppositories in the 
Pharmacopoeia might be increased with advantage in a new edition , and this 
WO uld be very simply done, if a uniform size were adopted and a basis.agreed 
upon suitable for all the medicinal substances employed. Setting aside tbe 
present defective formulae, which might be replaced by simpler ones with some¬ 
what increased doses: say—morphia 4 grain and tannic acid 5 grains, there 
might be added a few of the more commonly prescribed forms. It would, of 
course, be as absurd to propose the insertion of a long list of formulae as to 
apply the same process to the prescriptions for mixtures or pills which aie 
brought to us to be dispensed. 
Of the list of Suppositories given in Professor Simpson s paper, before 
quoted, probably the following would be suitable for recognition . 
Belladonna (4 grains extract). 
Mercurial (6 grains ung. liydrarg.). 
Powdered gall (5 grains) and opium (1 grain). 
Acetate of lead (5 grains) and opium (1 grain). 
Aloin (1 grain) and powdered soap (5 grains). 
