102 
Tinctura  Capsici. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharrt.. 
Mar.  1876. 
tion  of  concentrated  or  nauseous  medicinal  substances,  as  being  far 
superior  to  any  method  ever  invented. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  "  Cachets  de  Pain  " 
will  be  referred  to  only  as  a  thing  of  the  past,  which,  through  want  of 
merit  and  practicability,  fell  into  disuse. 
Note  by  the  Editor. — We  can  scarcely  regard  excessive  moist- 
ening of  the  rim  of  the  discs,  or  the  omission  of  moistening  the  wafer 
capsules  before  swallowing,  as  sufficient  arguments  against  the  use  of 
the  cachets  de  pain;  just  as  little  as  the  excessive  addition  of  an  excip- 
ient  or  the  mastication  of  pills  by  some  patients  can  be  advanced  as. 
arguments  against  the  administration  of  medicines  in  the  form  of  gen- 
eral pills.  Regarding  the  premature  effervescence  which  is  apt  to  take 
place,  if  a  mixture  of  an  acid  and  a  carbonate  is  enclosed  in  the  same 
wafer  capsule,  this  may  be  obviated  by  keeping  the  two  articles  separate 
in  two  distinct  cells,  by  inserting  between  them  a  flat  wafer  disc,  which 
will  prevent  their  coming  in  contact  until  the  wafer  has  been  com- 
pletely disintegrated  in  the  stomach. 
TINCTURA  CAPSICI. 
BY  GEORGE  W.  KENNEDY,  PH.  G. 
Within  the  last  few  years  many  changes  have  been  recommended  in 
the  manufacture  of  the  various  pharmaceutical  preparations"  of  the 
pharmacopoeia,  some  writers  recommending  a  change  in  the  men- 
struum, others  a  change  in  the  quantity  of  solid  material  to  be  used, 
while  others  advocate  a  more  expeditious  mode  of  preparation.  Of  the 
first  I  might  allude  to  the  Tincture  of  Rhubarb,  for  which  glycerin 
has  been  highly  commended  as  an  excellent  solvent,  and  it  seems  to 
me  that  it  would  make  a  very  desirable  addition,  as  a  more  permanent 
preparation  can  be  obtained, — the  glycerin  preventing  to  a  great  extent 
the  precipitation  of  the  chrysophanic  acid,  the  cathartic  principle  of 
the  drug.  On  the  second  point,  as  to  the  quantity  of  solid  material  to 
be  used,  much  has  been  written  in  favor  of  making  each  pint  of  fluid 
extract  represent  eight  troy  ounces  of  the  drugs  instead  of  sixteen,  as 
at  present  directed.  On  the  third  point,  recommending  a  quicker 
method  of  making  certain  preparations,  I  simply  desire  to  mention  a 
few  without  discussing  the  advantages  or  disadvantages,  which  is  not 
my  object  at  this  time.    In  the  preparation  of  tinct.  opii  camph.  it  has- 
