56  New  Process  for  Phosphorus  Pills.  {Am^\l%™- 
paper  appears  to  be  the  same  as  the  one  to  which  reference  was  made 
on  page  88,  of  our  last  volume. 
ON  A  NEW  PROCESS  FOR  PHOSPHORUS  PILLS. 
BY  ELI  LILLY. 
Finding  serious  objections  to  all  the  processes  brought  forward  for 
phosphorus  pills,  I  was  induced  to  search  for  a  process  which  should  be 
at  once  safe,  easily  managed,  protecting  the  phosphorus  from  oxidation 
during  the  operation,  and  insure  solubility  of  the  pill  when  taken  into 
the  stomach. 
I  present  the  following  formula,  which  I  think  covers  all  these 
points,  my  opinion  being  based  on  the  manufacture  of  many  thousands 
of  these  pills  during  the  last  four  or  five  months,  with  favorable  re- 
ports from  many  pharmacists  and  physicians. 
Take  of 
Syrup  U.  S.  P.,  260  parts. 
Wh eaten  flour,       .  .  .  340  parts. 
Phosphorus,  .  .  .6  parts. 
Weigh  the  syrup  in  a  stout,  sound  bottle  of  sufficient  capacity  to  hold 
one-fourth  more  than  the  amount  of  syrup  used.  Place  the  bottle  in 
a  water- bath,  and  raise  the  temperature  to  1500  F.  Drop  the  phos- 
phorus into  the  warm  syrup,  and,  as  soon  as  melted,  close  the  bottle 
with  a  close-fitting  cork  ;  take  it  from  the  bath,  and,  holding  it  up- 
right, give  it  a  gently-whirling  motion  until  the  phosphorus  is  divided 
into  small  globules,  when  it  must  be  violently  shaken  till  cold.  Having 
the  flour  finely  sifted  and  placed  in  a  mortar,  pour  in  the  mixture  of 
syrup  and  phosphorus,  and  rapidly  form  the  mass,  which,  when  com- 
pleted, may  be  packed  down  in  small,  glazed  earthen  jars,  and  tin  foil 
placed  under  the  covers  to  retain  the  moisture  and  exclude  the  air. 
Pills  made  from  this  mass  weighing  1  grain  will  contain  grains 
phosphorus,  and  2  grains  -fa  grain  phosphorus. 
A  portion  of  the  flour  in  the  above  formula  may  be  replaced  with 
extract  nux  vomica,  sacch.  carb.  iron,  etc.,  if  such  combinations  are 
to  be  made,  of  course  observing  to  mix  them  in  fine  powder  with  the 
flour  before  adding  the  syrup. 
It  is  necessary,  if  small  quantities  are  to  be  made,  to  return  the  bottle 
containing  the  phosphorus  and  syrup  to  the  water-bath  two  or  three 
times  during  the  shaking,  before  finally  allowing  if  to  cool  ;  but  with 
12  troy  ounces  or  more  of  syrup  it  is  unnecessary. 
