222 MOHR AND REDWOOD'S PRACTICAL PHARMACY. 
top of other less active ingredients, and well mixed with 
tfiem." 
" The pill mass being formed, the next operation consists 
in dividing it into pills. This is effected by means of the 
pill machine. Little need be said with reference to the use 
of this instrument. In most cases the formation of the pills 
is a simple and easy process, yet cases will sometimes occur, 
in which, after exercising all his skill in making the pill- 
mass, the dispenser will find it difficult to roll the mass into 
pills, in consequence of its tendency to crumble. This is 
the case with jalap pills made with tincture of jalap, and 
more especially with the pills of volatile oil, magnesia, and 
soap. When the , mass has a great tendency to crumble, 
the processes of forming the mass and of rolling out the pills, 
should be performed as quickly as possible. The mass 
should be made rather soft, and then immediately rolled 
and cut into pills, with a quick and dexterous hand, 
avoiding the application of much pressure in the process of 
rolling. 
" The fill-finis her, fig. 476, is a useful appendage to the 
pill-machine. It is used for finishing off the pills after they 
have been cut in the machine, obviating the necessity of 
rolling them separately in the fingers. The finisher con- 
sists of a circular disk of wood, of which fig. 27 is a section ; 
Fig. 27. with a projecting rim on the lower 
surface, and a broad flat knob on 
the top, which serves as a handle. 
i| It may be made of pear-tree, or any 
The Piix-Finisher. other hard wood ; it should be about 
three inches in diameter, and the depth of the rim should be 
rather less than the diameter of a pill. In fact, there should 
be two or three of these finishers with rims made to suit 
different-sized pills. 
" In using the finisher, the pills are placed on a tray, or 
on the platform of the machine, with some of the powder 
used for covering them, and the finisher, held by the knob, 
/ 
