Chap. XXXIX. Of Pills.

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Gums and inspissated juices are to be first softened with theliquid prescribed; the powders are then to be added, and thewhole beat thoroughly together, till they be perfectly mixed.

The masses for pills are best kept in bladders, which shouldbe moistened now and then with some of the same kind ofliquid that the mass was made up with, or with some properaromatic oil.

When the mass is to be divided into pills, a given weightof it is rolled out into a cylinder of a given length, and of anequal thickness throughout, and is then divided into a givennumber of equal pieces, by means of a simple machine. Thesepieces are then rounded between the fingers or by a machine;and to prevent them from adhering, they are covered eitherwith starch, or powder of liquorice, or orris root. In Ger-many the powder of Jycopodium is much used.

Piluije A-LoETica:. Ed. .Aloetic Pills.Take of

Aloes, in powder,Soap, equal parts.Beat them with simple syrup into a mass fit for making pills.

PlLUUE ALOES CUM ZINGIBERE. Dull.

Pills of Aloes mid Ginger.Take of

Hepatic aloes, one ounce;

Ginger root, in powder, one drachm;

Soap, half an ounce ;

Essence of peppermint, half a drachm.Powder the aloes with the ginger, then add the soap and thec-e essence, so as to form an intimate mixture.

Pilule aloes composite. LondiCompound Pills of Aloes.Take of

Socotorine aloes, powdered, one ounce;Extract of gentian, half an ounce;Oil of caraway, forty minims;Simple syrup, as much as is sufficient.Beat them together into a homogeneous mass.

Although soap can scarcely be thought to facilitate thesolution of the aloes in the stomach, as was supposed by Boer-haave and others, it is, probably, the most convenient sub-

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