I 
ON  SOME  FRENCH  PHARMACEUTICAL  SPECIALITIES.  349 
They  are  prepared  by  evaporating  a  solution  of  iodide  of  iron 
(prepared  in  the  usual  way  with  iodine  and  iron  filings)  along 
with  honey  to  a  thick  consistence,  and  forming  a  mass  by  the 
addition  of  a  little  marsh  mallow  and  liquorice  powder.  In  the 
process,  the  greatest  care  is  taken  to  prevent  the  decomposition 
of  the  iodide  ;  the  pills  are  rolled  in  powder  of  iron  and  on  an 
iron-pill  machine,  and  are  finally  varnished  with  a  solution  of 
balsam  of  tolu  in  ether.  Each  pill  contains  one  grain  of  proto- 
iodide  of  iron  and  a  sixth  of  a  grain  of  metallic  iron. 
"  The  granules  of  digitaline  form  a  convenient  method  of  ad- 
ministering that  powerful  medicine,  each  containing  one  milli- 
gramme (^th  of  a  grain)  of  digitaline,  mixed  with  powdered 
sugar. 
»  The  *  Drage'es  (or  Bonbons)  de  Gille'  contain  also  the  proto- 
iodide  of  iron,  about  one  grain  in  each.  It  is  contained  in  a  pill 
in  the  centre  of  the  drage'e. 
"  The  method  of  their  preparation  is  too  obvious  to  require 
explanation.  It  is  a  form  of  medicine  more  suited  to  the  French 
than  to  the  British  taste. 
"  The  next  form  of  medicines  shown  in  the  specimens  is  the 
most  elegant  of  all. 
»  The  *  Perles  d'Ether  '  and  <  Perles  de  Terebenthine,'  are 
small  gelatine  capsules,  containing  respectively  pure  ether  and 
turpentine  ;  they  are  prepared  by  a  process  kept  secret  by  the 
proprietor,  and  are  of  unequalled  beauty  and  finish  :  each  con- 
tains from  four  to  five  minims  of  sulphuric  ether  or  oil  of  turpen- 
tine. 
"  The  capsules  of  Mathey-Caylus  and  Raquin  are  both  very 
fine  illustrations  of  the  perfection  to  which  the  process  of  capsu- 
lation has  been  brought. 
"  Those  of  Raquin  contain  copaiva  thickened  with  1  of  its 
weight  of  magnesia,  and  those  of  Mathey-Caylus  are  prepared 
with  pure  copaiva,  copaiva  and  citrate  of  iron,  copaiva  and 
cubebs,  and  five  other  combinations  of  the  same  medicine,  as  well 
as  Venice  turpentine. 
"  The  specimen  sent  contains  copaiva  with  citrate  of  iron,  a 
very  useful  combination. 
"  The  capsules  of  both  makers  are  composed  of  gluten  from 
oat  flour,  not  gelatine. 
