276 
External  Preparations. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1903. 
glycerin  suppositories.  Neither  is  gelatin  a  proper  vehicle  for  rec- 
tal suppositories,  except  when  used  instead  of  nutritive  enemata, 
where  other  considerations  supervene. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  secretions  of  the  urethra  and  vagina  are 
normally  acid,  and  fats  are  therefore  not  indicated  as  the  proper 
vehicle  for  urethral  and  vaginal  suppositories,  but  water-soluble 
substances  should  be  employed.  Glycero-gelatin  answers  the  pur- 
pose probably  better  than  most  of  the  other  substances  employed, 
the  only  objection  being  that  in  melting  it  exudes  and  may  mat  the 
pubic  hairs.  By  using  50  per  cent,  anhydrous  glycero-gelatin  mass, 
a  soft  readily  soluble  "  bougie  "  is  obtained,  in  which  tannin  and 
similar  agents  may  be  presented  without  difficulty.1 
The  late  Dr.  Hay,  of  Chicago,  employed  a  vaginal  suppository  of 
elm  powder  which  had  the  advantage  of  ready  preparation  in  that 
the  suppository  could  be  easily  formed  into  any  shape  desired  with 
the  fingers. 
Glycero-Massa  Ulmi{Elm  Suppository  Mass). — Powdered  elm  bark, 
IO;  water,  6;  glycerin,  6  c.c.  In  the  water  and  glycerin  previously 
mixed  dissolve  the  required  amount  of  the  medicinal  agent,  add  the 
solution  to  the  elm  powder  at  once  and  quickly  mix  and  form  a  mass 
by  working  the  mixture  in  a  mortar.  A  soft,  cohesive  and  plastic  mass 
results,  which  may  be  rolled  out,  divided  into  the  required  number 
of  parts  (for  the  above  quantity  of  6)  and  made  globular  by  forming 
with  the  spatula  and  the  fingers.  This  operation  should  be  done 
quickly,  since  the  mass  hardens  in  about  ten  minutes  and  can  not 
then  be  readily  formed.  Any  form  can  easily  be  made  in  this  man- 
ner without  losing  its  shape.  In  about  twenty-four  hours  the  sup- 
positories become  hard  and  elastic. 
In  a  suppository  the  medicinal  agent  should  be  most  thoroughly 
distributed  with  the  vehicle,  as  in  all  similar  preparations,  and  it  is 
the  worst  kind  of  slip- shod  pharmacy  to  use  the  so-called  hollow  " 
suppositories. 
CERATES. 
/ 
The  cerates  are  mixtures  of  fats  and  waxes,  having  a  higher 
melting  point  than  ointments,,  their  firmer  consistence  requiring 
1  While  tannin  and  derivative  extractives,  krameria,  etc.,  form  a  translucent 
mass  with  absolutely  water-free  glycero-gelatin,  such  mass  is  as  insoluble  in 
water  or  watery  secretions  as  in  leather,  and  therefore  therapeutically  worth- 
less.—C.  S.  N.  H. 
