200  PUMPKIN  SEEDS — PEPO,  U.  S.  P.' 
The  aqueous  extract  of  opium  is  employed  more  than  any 
other,  so  I  will  relate  some  of  my  experience  with  it. 
When  it  is  perfectly  dry  it  may  be  reduced  to  a  very  fine 
powder,  and  then  incorporated  with  the  butter  of  cacao.  If  an 
attempt  is  made  to  powder  it  when  not  perfectly  dry,  small 
particles  will  adhere  to  the  mortar  and  pestle,  and  it  cannot  be 
powdered  as  fine  as  it  should  be.  When  the  extract  is  in  this 
condition,  after  it  has  been  powdered  as  finely  as  possible,  it 
should  be  mixed  with  a  small  quantity  of  water  (one  drop  to 
about  fifteen  grains  is  sufficient),  and  then  made  into  a  smooth 
pilular  mass.  When  the  extract  is  not  hard,  yet  too  tenacious 
to  mix  with  the  butter  of  cacao,  it  may  be  rendered  quite  soft 
by  kneading  between  the  fingers,  imparting  sufficient  moisture 
by  breathing  upon  it.  When  the  extract  is  soft,  it  should  first 
be  mixed  with  about  half  its  weight  of  butter  of  cacao.  When 
it  doesn't  mix  readily  in  the  mortar,  it  may  be  very  thoroughly 
incorporated  by  kneading  between  the  fingers  for  a  few  moments, 
when  it  may  be  easily  mixed  with  another  portion.  It  would  be 
very  convenient,  and  often  save  time,  by  keeping  a  mixture  com- 
posed of  equal  parts  of  the  extract  and  butter  of  cacao. 
All  the  extracts  which  I  have  had  occasion  to  make  into  sup- 
positories may  be  manipulated  as  above.  It  has  been  recom- 
mended that  the  extracts  be  reduced  to  a  creamy  consistence ; 
but  this  would  require  a  large  amount  of  liquid,  which  is 
objectionable. 
PUMPKIN  SEEDS.— PEPO,  U.S.P. 
By  Benton  G.  Dosch.S 
(From  an  Inaugural  Essay  presented  to  the  Philada.  College  of  Pliarm.,  1870.) 
The  pumpkin  is  a  very  common  and  familiar  plant,  cultivated 
in  most  parts  of  the  world.  Jt  belongs  to  the  natural  order  of 
Cucurbitaceas :  variety  Pepo.  It  attains  to  the  greatest  perfection 
in  low  and  moist  situations,  often  attaining  an  enormous  size, 
and  is  the  largest  of  its  natural  order. 
Some  kinds  are  highly  esteemed  and  extensively  used  as  an 
article  of  diet,  for  pastry,  &c.  The  farmers  cultivate  it  for  the 
purpose  of  feeding  cattle,  for  which  it  is  highly  nutritious  food. 
For  this  purpose,  however,  they  are  usually  deprived  of  the 
