224 
SUPPOSITORIES. 
I  then  prepare  a  refrigerating  vessel,  in  the  following  manner: 
I  fill  a  pan  or  dish,  or  other  suitable  vessel,  with  finely  broken 
ice,  or  water  in  which  a  piece  of  ice  is  immersed,  in  which  I  place 
the  requisite  number  of  moulds,  held  in  their  position  by  a  perfo- 
rated sheet  of  heavy  tin  ;  or,  if  this  is  not  at  hand,  a  piece  of 
$tiff  pasteboard,  or  a  thick  paper  box  lid  with  perforations  adapted 
to  the  size  of  the  moulds,  will  answer  the  purpose  temporarily. 
But  where  the  apothecary  has  a  large  demand  for  suppositories, 
and  is  required  to  make  them  frequently  and  in  large  quantities, 
it  would  be  perhaps,  if  not  more  convenient,  at  least  more  busi- 
ness-like to  have  a  tin  tray,  with  perforated  lid,  for  the  purpose, 
which  can  be  had  made  to  order  at  almost  any  tinsmith's,  for  from 
fifty  cents  to  one  dollar. 
After  the  refrigerating  vessel  is  prepared  and  in  readiness,  and 
the  moulds  properly  coated,  then  proceed  to  prepare  and  mix 
the  ingredients.  In  preparing  powdered  substances  for  suppo- 
sitories, they  should  be  brought  to  as  minute  a  state  of  division 
as  it  is  possible  to  reduce'  them,  before  admixture  with  the  ex- 
eipient.  If  this  desired  state  of  tenuity  cannot  be  attained  with- 
out too  much  time  and  labor,  by  process  of  powdering,  the  mate- 
rial, if  soluble  or  miscible  in  water,  glycerin  or  olive  oil,  may  be 
triturated  with  a  few  drops  of  either  liquid  until  a  perfectly 
smooth  and  uniform  pasty  mixture  is  obtained,  although  I  have 
rarely  found  the  addition  necessary;  and  suppositories  made 
without  the  addition  of  water  are  usually  firmer,  and  generally 
more  elegant  in  appearance,  more  permanent,  and  less  disposed 
to  undergo  change  of  color  or  decomposition  in  any  of  their  con- 
stituents by  time. 
If  the  active  ingredient  be  an  extract,  and  it  is  in  good  piJular 
condition,  it  needs  no  further  preparation,  except  thorough  tri- 
turation alone  in  a  mortar,  until  all  rough  particles  are  extin- 
guished, and  it  has  become  perfectly  smooth ;  but  should  it  have 
become  dry  and  hard  by  exposure  and  neglect,  it  must  be  reduced 
to  an  even  pasty  consistence,  by  first  working  it  up  well  with  .a 
few  drops  of  water  between  the  fingers,  as  the  warmth  of  the 
hand  greatly  facilitates  the  softening  of  the  mass  and  its  admix- 
ture with  the  water.  After  being  thus  partially  softened,  the 
process  may  be  completed  in  a  mortar. 
