380         New  Device  for  Moulding  Suppositories.  {Amx^*7h8arm' 
pills— "Proc.  Am.  Phar.  As.,"  1875;  "Am.  Jour.  Phar.,"  March, 
1876 — consisting  of  a  cylinder,  A,  (as  shown  in  the  accompanying  cut), 
1 J  inch  in  diameter,  by  2  inches  in  length,  with  a  central  bore  or  space, 
f  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  rounded  off  a  little  at  either  end  of  the  cylinder. 
This  cylinder  rests  upon  a  cylindrical  stand,  B,  2  inches  in  diameter, 
by  1  inch  in  height,  in  the  centre  of  the  upper  surface  of  which  has 
been  made  a  cylindrical  spur,  C,  f  of  an  inch  in  height,  with  the  upper 
end  made  slightly  concave,  and  of  such  a  diameter  that  it  will  nicely 
fit  the  bore  of  the  cylinder  first  described.  A  rod,  D,  i\  inches  long, 
is  made  of  the  same  diameter  as  the  spur,  with  a  conically  concave 
depression,  f  of  an  inch  deep,  turned  in  one  end  and  leaving  it  with 
a  sharp  edge.  On  the  other  end  of  the  rod  is  made  or  fixed  a  knob 
that  will  stand  a  sharp  blow  of  a  mallet — the  pressure  of  the  hand  I 
find  sufficient,  however,  unless  the  suppository  is  made  unusually  long. 
The  machine  is  intended  to  be  made  of  metal ;  brass,  nickel-plated, 
would,  perhaps,  be  the  best.  If  simply  made  of  brass,  the  first  of  a 
lot  of  suppositories  made  will  invariably  be  discolored  from  the  mould 
becoming  tarnished,  no  matter  what  pains  are  taken  in  cleaning  it. 
A  thin  coating  of  silver  answers  quite  well  the  purpose  of  protect- 
ing it,  which  may  be  given  in  a  few  minutes'  time,  by  simply  taking  a 
solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  in  the  proportion  of  twenty  grains  to  the 
half  ounce,  and  adding  to  this  a  strong  solution  of  cyanide  of  potas- 
sium, just  sufficient  to  redissolve  the  precipitate  first  formed,  then  add' 
a  little  prepared  chalk  and  rub  the  brass  with  this  mixture.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  minutes  you  will  have  it  well  coated  with  a  thin  coat- 
ing of  silver,  polished  and  ready  for  use. 
In  using  this  mould  the  cacao  butter  must  first  be  well  powdered, 
which  can  readily  be  done  by  first  breaking  down  the  larger  lumps  in 
a  mortar,  then  adding  a  few  drops  of  alcohol,  and  triturating  until  it  is 
finally  powdered.  (I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  G.  G.  Burnett  for  this  sug- 
gestion.) The  use  of  the  alcohol  is  to  prevent  the  particles  of  cacao 
butter  from  adhering  together  by  the  pressure  and  heat  produced  in  the 
process  of  trituration,  and  it  will  be  found  to  greatly  facilitate  the 
operation.  By  the  time  this  is  made  fine  enough,  the  alcohol  will' be 
nearly  all  evaporated.  Then  add  the  medicinal  agent,  and  form  the 
whole  into  a  mass,  as  would  be  done  to  shape  the  suppositories  with 
the  fingers.  The  mass  can  always  be  made  in  this  climate,  without 
rendering  the  material  too  soft,  by  adding  a  few  drops  of  a  fixed  oil* 
