Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
June,  1887. 
Gleanings  from  German  Journals.  299 
GLEANINGS  FEOM  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Geoege  H.  Ochse,  Ph.  G. 
Powdered  yellow  wax  is  a  good  excipient  for  pill  masses  containing 
balsams  or  ethereal  oils.  Wax  is  readily  powdered  by  triturating  with 
an  equal  quantity  of  granulated  sugar,  adding  several  drops  of  alcohol. 
Two  parts  of  this  mixture  and  a  small  quantity  of  starch  etc.,  yield 
with  one  part  of  oil  or  balsam  a  good,  non- voluminous  mass. — Pharm. 
Centralhalle,  XXYIII— 75. 
Gelatin  Bougies,  Suppositories  Etc. — The  best  gelatin  for  pharma- 
ceutical uses  is  the  French  silver  gelatin  No.  1.  The  proportions  of 
gelatin,  glycerin  and  water  cannot  be  the  same  for  all  preparations 
because  the  action  of  the  medicament  on  the  mass,  diliquescence  or  coag- 
ulation, must  be  taken  into  consideration. 
Where  gelatin  preparations  are  frequently  dispensed  it  is  best  to 
have  a  definite  mass  in  stock.  This  is  made  in  large  quantities. 
After  removing  the  scum  from  the  solution  it  is  poured  into  suitable 
bottles  and  when  thoroughly  cooled  covered  with  alcohol  to  prevent  it 
from  becoming  mouldy.  When  wanted  for  use  the  bottle  is  placed  in 
a  water-bath  and  the  required  quantity  is  poured  oif.  The  mass  is 
made  as  follows : — The  accurately  weighed  gelatin  is  allowed  to  mac- 
erate over  night  in  distilled  water  and  strained  through  a  sieve.  The 
gelatin  adhering  to  the  sieve  is  collected,  the  whole  placed  in  a  tared  por- 
celain capsule  and  sufficient  water  added  to  make  the  weight  four  or  five 
times  as  much  as  the  original  quantity  of  gelatin  used.  The  capsule 
is  placed  on  the  upper  ring  of  a  retort-stand  and  heated  over  wire- 
gauze  with  a  gas  or  spirit-lamp  flame,  care  being  taken  not  to  burn  the 
gelatin.  The  glycerin  is  added  and  the  whole  evaporated  to  the  con- 
sistency mentioned  in  the  following  table. 
I. 
Evaporated 
to  60  parts. 
II. 
Evaporated 
to  25  parts. 
III. 
Evaporated 
to  50  parts. 
IV. 
Evaporated 
to  60  parts. 
V. 
Evaporated 
to  104  parts. 
20 
10 
10 
10 
30 
"Water  
80 
40 
40 
40 
120 
40 
15 
20 
30 
15 
The  anhydrous  mass  No.  1  is  intended  for  preparations  kept  in 
stock,  and  for  those  which  are  to  retain  their  transparency ;  mass  No. 
2,  for  hygroscopic  drugs  ;  No.  3,  for  suppositories  ;  No.  4,  for  vaginal 
balls,  ear-almonds,  and  bougies ;  No.  5,  for  crayons  or  bougies,  con- 
taining a  large  percentage  of  iodoform. 
