248      GELATIN  INSTEAD  OF  METAL  FOR  BOTTLE  CAPSULES. 
THE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  GELATIN  INSTEAD  OF  METAL 
FOR  BOTTLE  CAPSULES. 
By  A.  F.  Haselden. 
[The  author  introduces  his  article  by  an  extract  relative  to 
the  English  Patent  Office,  from  "  Temple  Bar,"  and  then  refers 
to  the  annoyances  to  which  apothecaries  and  others  have  been 
subjected  by  suits  under  the  patent  laws  by  the  proprietors  of 
Setts'  Patent  Metallic  Capsules,  and  continues  as  follows :] 
"  In  the  meantime  all  must  commiserate  the  luckless  trades- 
men who  run  the  risk  of  getting  entangled  in  the  meshes  of  Mr. 
Betts's  Chancery  web.  We  do  so  heartily ;  and  there'fore  beg 
to  suggest  to  them  a  most  efficient  substitute  for  the  metallic  cap- 
sule, namely,  gelatine,  applied  precisely  in  the  same  way  as  seal- 
ing-wax or  resin — that  is  to  say,  in  its  melted  condition,  the  top 
of  the  bottle  being  dipped  into  it.  It  is  obvious  that  by  repeated 
dippings,  after  cooling,  any  thickness  of  capsule  may  be  effected. 
"  We  must  observe,  however,  that  gelatine  is  too  brittle  when 
used  alone,  but,  fortunately,  science  suggests  a  ready  and 
effectual  1  alloy.'  This  alloy  is  glycerine,  that  curious  substance 
of  which  we  may  say  that  it  is  impossible  to  decide  to  what 
purpose  it  may  not  be  applied.  The  proportion  in  which  it  may 
be  added  to  the  melted  gelatine,  to  give  it  pliability  and  tough- 
ness, is  about  one  ounce  and  a  half  to  the  pound  of  the  latter, 
well  stirred  in.  Of  course,  any  color  may  be  given  to  these 
capsules,  either  for  ornament  or  to  distinguish  readily  the 
various  liquors  or  other  preparations.  In  hot  climates,  there 
are  voracious  insects  that  attack  and  eat  everything, — to  wit,  the 
white  ant  in  China, — and,  of  course,  they  are  fond  of  all  animal 
matter,  so  that  the  gelatine  capsule  will  be  endangered ;  but  here 
again  we  are  ready  with  the  remedy.  Bitter  aloes  and  other 
repellents  may  be  added  to  the  melted  mass,  to  secure  this 
opportune  rival  from  those  tropical  plagues,  whilst  it  rescues 
its  users  from  the  worst  of  all  plagues — the  law,  lawyers  and 
inexorable  4  patent  rights.'  " 
So  far  the  writer  in  "  Temple  Bar, "and  very  easy  and  feasible 
it  appears ;  but  there  is,  in  carrying  out  the  gelatine  scheme, 
some  practical  difficulty  to  be  overcome.  To  make  the  subject 
as  clear  as  possible,  let  me  ask,  what  are  or  were  the  disadvan- 
