AmNoT''i87h8arm'}  Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  555 
Mr.  A.  P.  Brown,  President  of  the  Alumni  Association,  presented  to  the  College 
library  three  volumes  of  "Goldsmith's  Animated  Nature,"  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Jacobs,  a  member  of  the  present  class.    Accepted  with  thanks. 
Professor  Remington  called  attention  to  a  novelty  in  compressed  pills,  which  are 
covered  with  a  layer  of  sugar.  These  have  been  introduced  to  the  trade  in  a  neigh- 
boring city  under  the  name  of  "  Vellentimels,"  and  can  be  easily  made  by  placing 
a  small  quantity  of  granulated  sugar  in  the  mould  for  compressing  the  pills,  then 
the  medicinal  ingredients,  and  finally  another  portion  of  sugar,  and  following 
it  with  the  piston  of  the  machine,  driven  by  a  blow  to  solidify  the  mass  5  when  com- 
pleted the  pill  will  be  found  sugar-coated.  In  the  same  manner  powders  may  be 
compressed  and  coated  with  chocolate  or  with  licorice. 
Extract  of  licorice  that  had  been  badly  worm-eaten  was  shown  as  a  curiosity,  and 
such  it  is,  generally  ;  but  it  is  well  known  that  the  article  known  to  older  pharmacists 
as  "refined  licorice"  was  frequently  seen  in  this  condition. 
A  member  present  recommended  as  an  excipient  for  pill  masses  a  mixture  of  one 
part  of  tragacanth,  seven  parts  slippery  elm  powder,  moistened  with  either  honey  or 
syrup.  The  advantages  claimed  for  pills  made  with  it  are  solubility  and  small 
size  (see  page  515). 
The  propriety  of  making  quinia  pills  with  an  excipient  of  sulphuric  acid  was 
queried  by  a  member  who  found  that  the  pills  thus  made  were  objected  to  because 
they  became  so  hard  j  another  objection  has  been  made  that  when  made  up  with 
acid  they  disagree  with  the  stomach  in  very  many  cases. 
Pills  of  chloride  of  calcium  were  mentioned  as  being  very  troublesome  to  prepare 
and  very  liable  to  deliquesce  in  consequence  of  the  extreme  solubility  of  the  salt. 
Even  if  well  made  the  only  remedy,  if  it  must  be  dispensed  in  pillular  form,  is  to 
coat  the  pill  with  an  ethereal  solution  of  mastic  or  tolu.  The  fused  chloride  should 
never  be  used,  as  in  dissolving  it,  it  fixes  two  molecules  of  water,  and  in  doing  so  gives 
out  the  latent  heat  of  this  water. 
This  subject  gave  rise  to  a  discussion  about  the  effects  of  salts  while  dissolving, 
some  of  which  reduce  the  temperature  of  the  liquid,  while  others  produced  an  oppo- 
site effect. 
Mr.  Boring  called  attention  to  the  infusion  of  Colombo,  it  being  a  troublesome 
preparation  to  make  each  time  it  was  ordered ;  he  advocated  the  plan  of  making 
it  as  directed  by  the  U.S.  Pharmacopoeia,  and  adding  one  quarter  of  a  grain  of 
salicylic  acid  to  each  fluidounce,  to  preserve  it. 
Mr.  Webb  inquired  what  was  the  custom  of  the  trade  respecting  compound, 
infusion  of  gentian,  whether  they  generally  prepared  it  when  ordered  or  kept  a  con- 
centrated preparation  and  diluted  it  at  the  time  of  dispensing.  Mr.  Webb  stated 
that  he  had  formerly  made  it  of  double  the  alcoholic  strength  of  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
but  observation  had  lately  convinced  him  that  a  preparation  of  quadruple  strength 
was  preferable. 
Professor  Remington  made  an  infusion  of  quadruple  strength,  and  then  diluted! 
with  a  menstruum  of  12^  per  cent,  of  alcohol. 
There  being  no  further  business  before  the  meeting,  on  motion,  adjourned. 
Thomas  S.  Wiegand,  Registrar. 
