Specification of William Robert Barker : medicinal discs.

  • Barker, W. R. (William Robert)
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of William Robert Barker : medicinal discs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/10 (page 4)
    Barker's Improvements in the Manufacture of Medicinal Discs. same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:— My Invention relates to a new or improved manufacture of medicinal or medicated discs to be used for medical and surgical purposes, such discs consisting of gelatine, isinglass, or their compounds, preserving in 5 its or their congealed state certain curative component chemicals previously added thereto and mixed therewith for subsequent use in a soluble condition as a medicine, or medicines, or for surgical purposes by injection, or as a medicament or medicaments. The process of manufacture and the method of using such prepared 10 gelatinous compound are as follow:—The gelatine, or isinglass, or suitable compounds thereof being reduced to a state of solution by convenient means is prepared to receive by admixture and in exact proportions by weight the necessary chemical ingredients, the nature of which corresponds with the class of ailment or disease to which they are 15 intended to apply; as for example, morphia, atropia, strychnia, codeia, quinine or ergotine, or others, more especially their salts, may be used and mixed with the prepared gelatine, or isinglass, or their compounds, the strength and quantities of which must be carefully regulated. As an example of proportion I propose in using the sulphate of atropia 20 when the same is to be administered to arrest the profuse perspiration of phthisis to so regulate the dose as that each disc shall contain about the one hundred and twentieth part of a grain of atropia. It is well known that the class of medicinal substances enumerated constantly lose their strength by exposure to the air, and decomposition 25 of aqueous solutions. These solutions, especially of potent alkaloids, become weaker in a rapid degree by constant manipulation of the chemist or surgeon; but by admixture with properly prepared gelatine, or isinglass, or their compounds, and by subsequent solidification, all the strength of their valuable preparations is inevitably preserved for 80 any length of time notwithstanding continual exposure to air, so that the discs may be carried in the pocket, or in a bottle, or case. The discs are easily formed from the soft gelatinous mass either by rolling it, or by moulding, or by any other convenient method of division. It is only necessary when using them to dissolve one or more 35 in water or other suitable liquid when they may be applied to surgical purposes as in the case of hypodermic injections, the chemicals then