Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  *) 
September,  1896.  / 
Gelatine  Capsules. 
The  only  explanation  that  can  be  offered  for  this  peculiar  behavior 
of  alcohol  is  on  the  basis  of  Arrhenius'  theory  of  electrolytic  dis- 
sociation, as  detailed  in  the  writings  of  Professor  Ostwald.  Accord- 
ing to  the  latter  authority,  indicators  also  depend  for  their  value 
entirely  upon  dissociation,  and  although  the  various  alcohols  have  a 
dissociating  effect  upon  salts  held  in  solution  by  them,  it  is  less 
marked  than  in  the  case  of  water,  and  decreases  with  the  increasing 
molecular  weight  of  the  alcohol. 
The  conclusions  forced  upon  us  as  a  result  of  the  observations 
above  enumerated  are,  that  far  more  accurate  volumetric  determi- 
nations of  alkaloids  and  alkaloidal  residues  can  be  made  in  water 
alone  than  in  mixtures  of  the  same  with  alcohol,  and  that  the  error 
caused  by  the  latter  is  augmented  as  the  proportion  of  alcohol  is 
increased. 
Baltimore,  Md.,  July,  1896. 
GELATINE  CAPSULES.1  — 
By  Wm,  C.  Aiders. 
I.     HISTORY  OF  THE  CAPSULE. 
During  the  last  fifty  years,  the  filled  and  empty  gelatine  capsules 
have  become  of  such  general  use  among  physicians  and  pharma- 
cists that  a  short  history  of  their  origin  and  development  may  not 
be  without  interest.  Our  Pharmacopoeia  ignores  them  entirely,  and 
the  various  handbooks  on  pharmacy  contain  but  very  scant  infor- 
mation on  this  useful  article. 
In  compiling  the  following  notes,  the  writer  consulted  the  libra- 
ries, public  and  private,  of  New  York,  as  far  as  they  were  accessible ; 
and  while  he  thinks  that  he  has  recorded  all  that  is  desirable  to 
know  on  this  subject,  he  cannot  claim  that  nothing  has  been  over- 
looked or  forgotten,  and  will  be  glad  to  receive  additions  or  correc- 
tions. He  is  greatly  indebted  for  much  valuable  information  to  the 
firms  of  H.  Planten  &  Co.  and  E.  Fougera  &  Co.,  of  New  York ;  to 
Parke,  Davis  &  Co.  and  the  Merz  Capsule  Company,  of  Detroit, 
Mich.,  and  to  the  authors  of  the  various  pharmaceutical  manuals. 
Presented  at  the  Montreal  Meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion. 
