Pills. This form of medicine is particularly adapted for administering nauseous substances, and such as operate in small doses. Extracts may be made into pills either alone or with the addition of any simple powder, as that of liquorice, to increase their consistence. Powders are usually beaten up with syrup, mucilage, conserve of roses, or extract of liquorice. Castile soap is frequently used for substances that are not decomposed by alkalies. When the mixed ingredients are made into a mass, it should be preserved in a bladder placed in a covered stone pot, and occasionally moistened with a little spirit, or spirit and water, to prevent it getting hard. In all cases the dry ingredients should be reduced to fine powder, and the whole beaten into a uniform mass of a proper consistence for rolling into pills. This is effected by rolling it on a slab into a convenient thickness, and dividing into pieces of the requisite weight, lastly rolling them between the thumb and finger, to give them a globular form. A pill machine is usually employed for dividing the roll and shaping the pills. In ordinary cases, rolling the pills in carbonate of magnesia or powdered starch is usually adopted, to prevent them sticking together while moist. For other pills not under this heading, see Index.

4898. To Sugar-coat Pills

4898.    To Sugar-coat Pills. To sugar-coat, place the pills dry and smooth in a round copper pan or porcelain dish. In another pan dissolve white sugar in water in the same proportion as for making simple syrup; and, when dissolved, slowly evaporate the syrup until it feathers; that is, when a small portion taken out with a ladle and drawn up between two fingers forms a thread. The pan with the pills is next suspended over a slow fire, a little fine flour is sprinkled over them, and immediately after a spoonful of the syrup is poured on, or enough to cover. The pan is now kept swinging or moving over the fire, care being taken not to burn the sugar by too much heat, until it is reduced to a fine dust. Then more sugar is added, and the swinging and drying continued until a coat of sufficient thickness is obtained.

4899. To Silver or Gild Pills

4899.    To Silver or Gild Pills. Pills are gilded and silvered by rolling them between the fingers slightly moistened with mucilage, and then shaking them up in a small gallipot covered with a piece of paper, along with a little gold or silver leaf, or a little powdered gold or silver.

4900. Aloes Pills

4900.    Aloes Pills. Make 1 ounce aloes and 1 ounce soap into a mass with water. Divide into 240 pills.

4901. Aloes and Assafcetida Pills

4901.     Aloes and Assafcetida Pills. Take 1/2 ounce each powdered aloes, assafoetida, and soap, made into a mass with water. Divide into 180 pills.

4902. Aloes and Myrrh Pills

4902.    Aloes and Myrrh Pills. Mix 1 ounce aloes, 1/2 ounce myrrh, and 1/4 ounce saffron, with sufficient syrup to make a mass. This is sufficient for 240 pills.