AVa0ur;iP8  73RM'}  Suppository  Moulds  of  Plaster  Paris.  5 
SUPPOSITORY  MOULDS  OF  PLASTER  PARIS. 
By  Charles  E.  Dwight. 
Pharmacists  who  have  had  many  suppositories  to  make  with  the 
old  moulds  have  undoubtedly  often  hurt  their  fingers  by  pounding  in 
trying  to  remove  the  suppositories.  I  have  been  for  some  time  using 
a  mould  which  parts  through  the  centre  and  is  made  of  plaster  Paris, 
which  gives  so  much  satisfaction  that  I  can  but  wish  for  others  to  try 
it ;  it  may  have  been  used  by  others,  but  is  entirely  original  with 
myself. 
The  expense  of  buying  moulds  of  metal  which  part  through  the 
centre  has  probably  been  detrimental  to  their  universal  use,  while 
they  are  undoubtedly  superior  to  those  old  finger  smashers  in  being 
easily  cleaned  and  oiled,  and  also  facilitating  the  extraction  of  the 
suppositories  when  cold.  For  the  benefit  of  those  unused  to  the 
manipulation  with  plaster,  I  will  give  a  general  plan  for  preparing 
the  moulds. 
Into  a  vessel  of  about  six  inches  long  by  two  wide  and  one  deep,  (a 
pasteboard  box  will  do),  pour  in  plaster  mixed  to  the  consistency  of 
thick  cream,  until  half  full ;  have  ready  six  suppositories,  moulded  of 
wax,  from  other  moulds  of  good  shape,  and  while  the  plaster  is  yet  soft 
immerse  them  to  half  their  diameter,  with  their  large  end  close  to  the 
edge  of  the  box,  all  in  a  row  and  a  uniform  distance  apart.  When 
the  plaster  has  set,  gently  remove  the  wax,  and  with  a  knife  smooth 
off  the  surface  and  trim  the  edges  of  each  mould  sharp,  and  between 
each  depression  made  by  the  wax  suppository  dig  a  small  cavity 
about  the  size  and  shape  of  a  small  pea  cut  through  the  centre* 
Now  we  have  half  of  our  mould.  When  the  face  has  become  hard, 
oil  or  grease  with  linseed  oil  or  lard,  replace  the  wax  suppositories 
and  raise  the  edges  of  the  box  by  wrapping  heavy  paper  around, 
which  will  extend  about  another  inch  above  the  surface  of  the  face ; 
mix  another  portion  of  the  plaster  equal  to  the  first,  and  in  the  same 
way,  and  gently  pour  over  the  greased  surface  until  it  will  be  about 
one  fnch  deep  above  the  other  or  lower  half.  When  hard,  the  two 
parts  .can  be  easily  pulled  apart,  the  edges  trimmed  off  and  each  part 
boiled  for  about  an  hour  in  linseed  oil,  which  will  prevent  the  adhe- 
sion of  the  substance  to  be  moulded.  The  plaster  must  be  mixed 
thin  and  well  stirred  to  be  substantial. 
By  following  the  above  plan  almost  any  number  of  sizes  can  be 
