194 
Preparation  of  Suppositories. 
{  Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
t    May  1,  1871. 
much  more  easily  manipulated.  For  instance,  take  the  following  sup- 
pository from  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory,  13th  edition,  viz.  :  ' 
R.    Tannic  Acid  grs.  36. 
Benzoated  Lard  "  44. 
White  Wax  "  lO. 
Oil  of  Thoobroma  90. 
The  directions  are  to  melt  the  wax  nnd  oil  of  theobroma  with  a 
gentle  hent,  and  add  the  tannic  acid  and  benzoated  lard,  previously 
rubbed  together  in  a  mortar,  and  mix  all  the  ingredients  thoroughly; 
pour  the  mixture,  while  it  is  still  fluid,  into  suitable  moulds  of  the  ca- 
pacity of  15  grains,  or  tlie  fluid  mixture  may  be  allowed  to  cool,  and 
then  divided  into  12  equal  parts,  each  of  which  shall  be  made  into  a 
conical,  or  other  convenient  form  for  a  suppository. 
The  above  formula  is  easily  expressed,  but  not  so  easily  complied 
with  in  all  cases,  owing  to  the  variable  nature  of  the  oil  of  theobroma^ 
and  also  to  the  tempei'ature  of  tlie  season  ;  but,  accepting  it  as  it 
stands,  the  advantage  of  the  grated  wax  and  cacao  butter  is  very 
perceptible,  since  instead  of  melting  one  portion  together,  and  rubbing 
the  other  portion  in  a  mortar  as  prescribed,  the  whole  may  be  at  once- 
mixed  and  rubbed  together  in  a  mortar,  forming  a  plastic  mass  as 
easily  rolled  into  lengths  and  divided  as  an  ordinary  pill  mass  ;  and 
each  piece  formed  by  the  fingers  into  a  conical  shape,  or,  if  desirablcy 
pressed  into  suitable  moulds  previously  dusted  with  lycopodiura,  a& 
suggested  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Moore.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  far  more 
difficult  prescription,  that  was  brought  to  me  by  a  patient  to  be  filled 
one  very  warm  night. 
R.    Carbolic  Acid       grs.  xxx. 
Cacao  Butter         7,  iss. 
Mix  and  make  suppositories  No.  10. 
Here  the  prescriptionist  is  in  a  dilemma.  If  the  carbolic  acid  and 
cacao  butter  are  melted  together  they  will  not  solidify  on  cooling;  if 
wax  be  melted  with  the  mixture,  considerable  time  is  occupied  in  ad- 
justing the  proportions,  as  it  is  necessary  to  test  it  by  allowing  por- 
tions to  cool  from  time  to  time,  and  adding  wait  by  degrees  until  the 
proper  consistence  is  attained  ;  meanwhile  the  carbolic  acid  is  evap- 
orating, and  the  efficacy  of  the  suppositories  being  impaired.  Having 
the  grated  materials  at  hand,  and  no  other  recourse  but  to  add  a  suf- 
ficiency of  wax,  it  was  immediately  and  easily  done  by  rubbing  it 
