Am    [our.  Pharm. 
Mar.  1876. 
Cachets  de  Pain. 
101 
Then,  in  the  administration  of  medicines  in  this  form,  we  are  met 
with  a  very  serious  objection.  When  the  physician,  not  being  aware 
that  it  is  necessary  (according  to  the  theory)  to  dip  the  "  Cachet  "  in 
cold  water  before  placing  upon  the  tongue,  fails  to  convey  this  fact  to 
the  patient,  and  often,  by  want  of  thought,  when  in  possession  of  this 
fact,  does  not  give  directions  how  to  administer,  or,  of  proper  manage- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  patient,  it  is  found  that,  instead  of  disguising 
the  compound  within,  the  "  Cachet "  materially  assists  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  unpleasantness  the  physician  endeavors  to  conceal  \  for, 
when  administered,  the  patient  discovers  that  in  place  of  descending 
the  oesophagus,  as  expected,  it  has  adhered  to  the  roof  of  the  mouth, 
and  in  his  efforts  to  detach  it  therefrom,  invariably  succeeds  in  break- 
ing the  thin  coating,  and  then  enjoys  the  felicity  of  that  delectable 
experience  he  would  avoid.  This  is  not  only  my  personal  experience, 
but  that  of  several  physicians  of  this  city,  who,  having  submitted  this 
method  to  a  fair  trial,  have  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  ct  Cachets  de 
Pain"  are  a  failure. 
Then,  again,  is  it  reasonable  to  suppose  for  an  instant  that  two  sol- 
uble salts  would  retain  their  separate  and  distinct  characteristics  when 
in  contact  with  waters  ? 
And  yet  the  inventor  of  "  Cachets  de  Pain  "  states  that  they  allow 
the  presentation  of  two  separate  and  distinct  salts  in  one  envelope, 
which,  when  dissolved  in  the  stomach,  will  unite  and  form  a  salt  in 
the  nascent  state.  For  the  benefit  of  those  who  favor  this  theory,  I 
state  the  result  of  two  experiments. 
The  first  "  Cachet "  was  prepared  with  carbonate  of  potassium  and 
powdered  citric  acid,  in  a  perfectly  dry  state  ;  upon  dipping  for  an 
instant  in  water,  an  effervescence  ensued.  The  other  was  prepared  in 
precisely  the  same  manner,  with  tartaric  acid  and  bicarbonate  of  sodium. 
The  result  of  this  experiment  was  a  violent  elimination  of  carbonic 
acid,  with  force  sufficient  to  rupture  the  coating.  If  this  be  the  result 
of  simply  dipping  in  water  for  an  instant,  how  can  the  salts  unite  to 
form  one  in  the  nascent  state  in  the  stomach  ?  It  is  impossible,  simply 
because  they  have  united  before  entering  the  stomach. 
With  the  jujube  paste  capsules  of  M.  Planten,  this  can  be  accom- 
plished, for  the  reason  that  they  require  some  time  to  dissolve  before 
the  liquid  comes  in  contact  with  the  contents. 
These  capsules  are  recommended  by  physicians  for  the  administra- 
