AmMa^87h6!rm'}       Modern  Methods  in  Pharmacy.  203 
time  receive  a  most  favorable  notice,  and  be  largely  employed  in 
dispensing  the  preparations  of  physicians. 
Another  method  which  meets  with  opposition,  but  promises  to  grow 
in  favor,  is  the  process  of  preparing  compressed  pills,  for  which  a  con- 
venient and  inexpensive  machine  has  recently  been  placed  within 
reach  of  the  entire  profession.  No  doubt,  compressed  pills  will  be  of 
limited  application,  but  for  such  substances  as  bicarbonate  of  sodium, 
bicarbonate  of  potassium,  bisulphate  of  quinia,  and  the  like,  it  is  prefer- 
able to  the  old  method.  This  form  of  pills  is  not  new,  as  in  England 
and  the  United  States  they  have  been  known  for  many  years/but  here- 
tofore they  had  been  prepared  exclusively  by  the  few. 
Lastly,  though  not  least,  of  the  methods  in  pharmacy,  which  may  be 
termed  modern,  is  the  moulding  of  suppositories.  These  are  not  a  new 
class  of  preparations.  We  have  before  us  the  Dispensatory  of  Valerius 
Cordi,  published  in  1571,  in  which  we  find  a  formula  for  purgative  sup- 
positories, but  from  the  very  nature  of  the  formula,  we  do  not  suppose 
them  to  have  been  the  pretty  things  which  are  now  called  "  supposi- 
tories," with  due  respect  to  those  who  prefer  hand-made  suppositories. 
We  value  the  modern  method  of  moulding  as  a  great  advancement  in 
the  art.  Every  pharmacist  should  endeavor  to  be  supplied  with  the 
means  of  conducting  his  manipulations,  according  to  the  most  approved 
scientific  and  artistic  methods.  Those  who  are  not  willing  to  incur  the 
expense  and  inconvenience,  should  not  throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
progress.  Who  would  be  content  to  employ  themselves  in  a  shop 
furnished  after  the  best  model  of  the  last  century  ?  No  gas,  no  coal, 
no  water,  and  destitute  of  a  hundred  other  conveniences  which  science 
and  art  have  brought  to  our  aid.  The  old  shop,  with  windows  of  bot- 
tled snakes,  jars  of  rancid  dog  lard,  snake  oil,  human  fat  and  numerous 
other  repulsive  and  unnecessary  remedies,  through  the  influence  of 
science  and  art  have  been  displaced  by  the  modern  palatial  pharmacy, 
replete  with  chemical  and  pharmaceutical  apparatus,  and  the  introduc- 
tion of  new  methods. 
CACHETS  DE  PAIN. 
BY  WILLARD  M.  RICE,  JR. 
The  use  of  these  articles,  comparatively  new  to  American  pharma- 
cists, seems  to  be  increasing  to  so  great  an  extent,  that  I  have  thought 
a  few  practical  notes  on  the  subject  would  not  be  unacceptable  to  the 
