98 
An  Improved  Pill  Press, 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Mar.  1876. 
remains  in  the  cylinder,  the  whole  is  transferred  to  this  middle  depres- 
sion, when  one  blow  drives  the  pill  through. 
In  making  a  quantity  of  the  pills,  the  base  might  rest  on  two  upright 
posts,  three  or  four  inches  high,  and  a  box  might  be  placed  between 
the  posts  to  receive  the  pills  as  they  are  finished. 
The  writer  still  adheres  to  the  opinion  expressed  in  the  former 
paper  alluded  to,  that  compression  should  not  be  resorted  to  as  a  mode 
of  making  pills,  when  the  powder  used  is  not  readily  soluble  in  the  diges- 
tive fluids,  and  hence  the  machine  has  but  a  limited  use. 
For  acid  or  bisulphate  of  quinia  pills,  the  machine  answers  very  well, 
and  as  many  as  two  hundred  may  be  made  in  one  hour,  by  having  one 
operative  to  weigh  the  powder,  and  another  to  fill  into  the  cylinder  and 
strike  the  blow. 
Like  everything  else  of  this  kind,  a  little  practice  is  necessary  before 
success  is  assured  in  every  instance  j  some  difficulty  is  experienced  in 
compressing  the  pills  if  the  powder  used  be  very  dry,  as  in  the  case  of 
effloresced  sulphate  of  quinia,  subnitrate  of  bismuth,  &c,  &c. 
The  effect  of  using  a  powder  too  dry  is  to  cause  the  pill  to  split 
transversely,  a  minute  quantity  is  apt  to  be  blown  out  of  the  top  of  the 
cylinder  when  the  blow  is  struck,  and  it  is  almost  sure  to  clog  the 
piston  and  render  it  necessary  to  clean  it  frequently,  which  is  an  annoy- 
ance, to  say  the  least. 
If  the  precaution  is  taken  to  slightly  moisten,  with  water  or  other 
suitable  liquid,  such  a  powder  (and  the  amount  necessary  to  add  to 
accomplish  the  result  is  soon  learned),  the  difficulties  usually  vanish. 
The  pills  may  be  set  aside  to  dry  by  spontaneous  evaporation  of  the 
moisture,  or  they  can  be  dried  artificially,  by  heated  air,  in  much 
less  time. 
When  the  piston  does  adhere,  from  becoming  clogged  as  above 
mentioned,  it  may  be  readily  released  by  pouring  a  few  drops  of  water 
into  the  aperture  on  to  it,  which  will  soften  or  dissolve  the  powder. 
The  machine  may  then  be  washed,  and  the  cylinder  dried  quickly 
by  passing  through  it  a  thick,  soft  piece  of  twine. 
In  conclusion,  the  writer  takes  this  opportunity  to  state,  in 
answer  to  correspondence  and  inquiries  in  relation  to  this  contrivance, 
that  no  patent  has  been  procured  for  it,  no  one  has  the  exclusive  right 
to  manufacture,  and  any  who  care  to,  are  at  liberty  to  use  it,  have  one 
made  by  their  own  mechanic,  or  buy  of  either  of  the  makers  in  this  city. 
Philadelphia,  Second  mo.  Sthj  1876. 
