IOO 
Cachets  de  Pain. 
|  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
'[        Mar.  1876. 
CACHETS  DE  PAIN. 
BY  HARRY  P.  LECHLER,  PH.  G. 
For  some  time  past,  the  attention  of  physicians  and  pharmacists  has 
been  directed  to  the  wafer  discs  found  in  the  market  under  the  name 
of  "  Cachets  de  Pain,"  as  a  method  by  which  the  most  nauseous 
medicines  may  be  administered  in  a  pleasant  form.  Quinia,  aloes^ 
bromide  of  potassium  and  many  other  remedies  are  often  very  objec- 
tionable to  the  patient,  on  account  of  the  disagreeable  taste  they 
possess,  and  to  cover  this  without  impairing  their  therapeutical  value 
has  long  been  a  source  of  trouble  and  anxiety  to  the  physician.  This,, 
the  inventor  of  "  Cachets  de  Pain  "  claims  to  have  accomplished.  By 
his  theory,  the  patient  has  neither  taste  nor  smell  of  any  medicine 
prescribed,  whether  unpleasant  to  the  palate  or  injurious  to  the  teeth> 
and  the  medicinal  properties  of  the  compound  are  not  in  the  least 
impaired  by  the  enclosure. 
To  prepare  the  "  Cachet "  for  administration,  the  compound  pre- 
scribed is  first  placed  in  one  of  the  concave  discs,  the  internal  surface 
of  the  rim  is  then  moistened  with  water,  another  wafer  disc  is  moist- 
ened in  a  similar  manner  and  placed  carefully  over  the  first,  the  mar- 
gins are  then  made  to  adhere  by  means  of  a  small  lever  press.  The 
medicated  "  Cachet "  is  now  ready  for  the  patient,  who,  by  first  dip- 
ping in  cold  water,  placing  upon  the  tongue,  and  with  a  draught  of 
water,  is  enabled  to  swallow  with  ease.  Thus,  in  theory,  the  "  Cachets 
de  Pain  "  are  all  that  could  be  desired,  but  the  question  arises,  How 
will  this  theory  hold  in  practice  ? 
In  the  first  place,  the  time  required  to  prepare  twelve  "  Cachets  " 
is,  at  the  least  calculation,  five  times  longer  than  that  required  to  dis- 
pense an  equal  number  of  pills  or  powders,  and  often,  when  the  discs 
are  moistened  and  pressed,  we  find  them  adhering  to  the  press  ;  this 
may  be  the  result  of  an  excess  of  moisture,  or  of  more  pressure  than 
is  actually  required  \  but  they  are  then  to  be  removed  with  care,  other- 
wise they  will  break  where  the  line  of  moisture  extends,  thus  entailing 
the  necessity  of  preparing  another  ;  and  after  removing  from  the  press 
the  "  Cachets"  require  careful  drying,  otherwise  when  placed  in  a  box 
they  will  adhere  to  each  other.  You  make  answer,  They  were  not 
properly  prepared.  Manipulate  with  all  the  skill  at  your  command,, 
you  will  often  have  an  excess  of  moisture  ;  and  this,  combined  with  the 
pressure  exerted  upon  the  thin  coating,  has  a  tendency  to  cause  a  rup- 
ture. 
