Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
Mar.,  1875. 
Suppositories. 
lOI 
or  fifteen  suppositories,  upon  ice,  and  put  the  quantity  of  cacao  butter 
in  a  capsule,  and  melt  quickly,  thoroughly  incorporating  the  powdered 
opium,  for  instance,  with  the  melted  cacao  butter.  Stir,  while  cooling, 
until  brought  to  the  consistence  of  thick  honey  ;  pour  into  the  moulds, 
and  allow  to  solidify.  Upon  opening  the  mould  the  suppository  will 
usually  drop  out.  No  lycopodium  or  steatite  is  necessary,  as  there  is 
no  difficulty  experienced  through  sticking. 
The  breakage  will  not  amount  to  i  per  cent,  of  the  number  pre- 
pared. With  these  directions  strictly  followed,  no  separation  will 
occur. 
If  an  extract  is  used,  dissolve  in  as  little  hot  water  as  possible,  and 
pour  the  melted  cacao  butter  upon  the  diluted  extract.  Incorporate 
thoroughly,  and  proceed  as  above. 
In  dispensing,  place  white  or  pink  cotton  in  a  box,  and  place  the 
suppository  thereon  ;  cover  with  cotton,  and  label  as  usual. 
Philadelphia,  February  16th,  1875. 
SUPPOSITORIES. 
BY  J.  KEMBLE. 
[Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meetings  February  \6th.) 
I  have  read  with  pleasure  the  paper  of  Mr.  Kennedy  on  "  Sup- 
positories," in  the  "Journal  of  Pharmacy"  for  this  month  (February), 
and  agree  with  him  in  most  particulars  of  his  plan,  as  being  the  most 
satisfactory  mode  of  preparing  them  yet  offered. 
I  discarded  the  mould  long  ago  and  always  use  the  mortar  and  pes- 
tle, rubbing  freely  (with  a  little  warmth  if  necessary)  until  the  cacao 
butter  (about  twenty  grains  for  each  suppository)  is  reduced  to  a  pliable 
mass,  then  incorporate  thoroughly  the  ingredients  ordered  (having 
previously  reduced  to  a  fine  powder — if  santonin,  sugar  of  lead,  or  any 
other  ingredient  requiring  it),  and  roll  out  with  the  spatula  into  suitable 
length,  cut  into  the  number  wanted,  shape  with  the  fingers,  and,  with 
the  spatula,  roll  into  a  smooth  cone. 
Although  the  lycopodium,  as  directed  by  Mr.  Kennedy,  answers  ad- 
mirably to  prevent  sticking  to  the  fingers,  I  prefer  the  flour  of  the  elm 
bark,  on  account  of  its  action  on  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  anus 
and  alimentary  canal,  while  the  lycopodium  is  of  a  non-absorbing  char- 
acter, and  answers  admirably  to  prevent  adhesion,  it  also  retards 
slightly  the  absorption  of  the  material  by  the  mucous  membrane  with 
which  it  comes  in  contact,  the  elm  is  just  the  opposite,  and,  being  an 
