IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING OR DISPENSING MEDICINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM WATSON, 33 Hayburn Crescent, Partick, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, Engineer and Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING OR DISPENSING MEDICINES, to be as follows:-
My Invention is, or consists in, the preparing or dispensing of officinal, or other
ascertained, or recognized and well known medicines in a novel and improved
manner, so that much greater security and accuracy, or more efficiency, convenience
and safety, are attained in their use or administration.-Heretofore all medicines
have been prepared or dispensed in a more or less dark, obscure, secret, or inexact
manner, oftimes causing thereby accidents, which have resulted in injury or death,
and in all cases preventing, or hindering, that very necessary, and advantageous,
partial knowledge of medicines, amongst those persons taking or using them, (who
have in general no time to acquire an acquaintance with medicine as an art), which
is required and should be promoted and diffused for their individual welfare and
security. The simple medicines of the Materia Medica, or the authorized recipes
of the British Pharmacopoeia as hitherto prepared or dispensed for internal use or
administration have been dispensed in bottles, cases, boxes, or papers, containing
one or more doses, and have been usually labelled or marked as follows: viz. with
the quantity of each necessary for a dose, the form, or mode, and time of taking
them, and the number of the contained doses only, without the name or description
of the medicine; or when compound without the name or description of the
different ingredients; but sometimes the name of a medicine has been added; but,
in all cases, each dose has not separately received any name, mark, or sign, by
which to ascertain its true nature, use, and properties; and officinal external
remedies have been dispensed in the same manner, with labels usually marked
with their mode of application only; or their name and mode of application.―
Homeopathic or dynamic remedies for internal use, have been dispensed in a
similar manner, but labelled or marked with the name, or an abbreviation of the
name of the medicine, and the number of its potency or dilution only.-Herbal
remedies as used by Botanic practitioners, have also been dispensed in a similar
manner, but if labelled at all, in most cases with their names only, or in others,
with mode, time and quantity of administration also; but in no instance has each
separate dose, received a name, sign or mark, by which to ascertain its true nature
use, and properties.
To attain in the use or administration of these remedies, at all times, and in all
places, greater accuracy, and precision, with more convenience, security, and utility;
and at the same time by their means to inform the patient or person administering
them, exactly what is being used or taken as a remedy, with its officinal or recog-
nized dose, and its principal therapeutical effects, action or properties, and method •

page_text: or mode of administration, so as thereby to promote or promulgate an accurate and
useful knowledge of each medicine, amongst all individuals requiring or using
them; I prepare or dispense them in the following manner, or in the specified
modifications thereof: In dispensing the approved medicines of the Materia Medica,
or officinal recipes of the Pharmacopoeia when in a liquid form, as infusion,
decoction, tincture emulsion, or syrup; or when in the form of extract or powder,
or simple part of a tree or plant, I affix on the bottle, box or package, or supply
along with it, a label which may be plainly written, or printed, but I prefer in all
cases to legibly print it, specifying, if a simple or single medicine only, its officinal
and proper name, its authorized or recognized dose, and its therapeutical effects,
properties, action, and mode of using; if a compound medicine I affix a similar
label, but also specify the name and quantity of each ingredient in it. In dis-
pensing medicines in the solid state such as pills or lozenges, I place a similar label
on the bottle, case or box, and I also stamp or mark each pill or lozenge with its
officinal name, or an index mark, and as these forms of medicine are rather small
to be stamped or marked with the name and other particulars in a legible manner,
I prefer to place on each of then a special number, which I always afterwards
retain for this particular medicine only, and on the label affixed or supplied along
with or belonging to each of these medicines, I print the same number, so that by
referring the number on a pill or lozenge to its numbered label, an accurate
description of its ingredients, nature, effects, and use can at any time be had, and
even when pills or lozenges of all kinds, have been accidentally or inadvertently
mixed in any quantity, they can by this means be readily separated, and applied
to their proper uses, as long as the number on each has not been effaced.-Dynamic
or Homeopathic medicines.have been hitherto dispensed in bottles or cases having
the name of the medicine, and number of the dilution or potency marked on then
only; but, as the symptoms proceeding from, or caused by the action of large doses
of these medicines on the vital economy in a state of health, indicate or denote in
an exact manner, the symptoms for which they should be used or applied, and
as the principal indications have been minutely ascertained it becomes a matter of
the utmost importance, for convenience and precision in their administration to
have these principal indications to each medicine. I therefore in preparing or dis-
pensing them supply with, or affix on each bottle containing a dilution or potency,
a label legibly printed with the name, dose and number of dilution, and its
principal ascertained or recognized indications and recommendations, and I prefer
to letter or number these indications, or so to place them in successive order, that
they may also show, or denote as near as possible the power of its curative action
in each symptom, in accordance with the ascertained degree of strength or force,
displayed in its allopathic or primary action. To mark each dose of what is
termed a pill or pilule, with a name or number as before, I prefer to make them
of a flat or lozenge shape, and to add a sufficient quantity of the sugar of milk,
vegetable sugar, or starch to them, to make them of a more suitable size.-In
dispensing herbal preparations, I place each herb, in a bottle, case or packet,
having affixed thereon, a label printed with the Botanical name and description
of the plant, with its recognized therapeutic properties and recommendations, dose,
and mode. of administration; with the compound preparations I also specify the
name and quantity of each ingredient; for the purpose of marking each dose of
herbal medicines with a name or number as before, I add sufficient sugar of milk,
vegetable sugar, or starch to each dose of extract or extractive principle as will
permit them to be made into solid pills, or lozenges.

page_text: Ворон
.
I, WILLIAM WATSON, 33 Hayburn Crescent, Partick, Glasgow, in the county of
Lanark, Engineer, (and practical Chemist) do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING OR DISPENSING MEDICINES," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Although the names, general qualities, therapeutical effects, uses, and doses of all
animal, vegetable, or mineral substances, used in a simple or officinal compound
form as medicines, are now well known from experience and observation; and have
been accurately defined and determined: yet heretofore, no method of manufacture
has been invented or adopted of preparing or dispensing these medicines; so that
the party purchasing, using, applying or administering them; shall have in all
instances these particulars affixed to the medicines or the receptacles containing
them, or be otherwise supplied with them along with the medicines for reference,
as in the novel and improved manner hereafter described.
My Invention is, or consists in the preparing or dispensing of all the simple or
compound officinal medicines of the British Pharmacopoeia or Materia Medica,
(with the exception of those regulated by law, and dispensed under the provisions
of the Pharmacy Act 1868, and the amendments thereto); whether or not such
officinal medicines may bear an affinity in their medicinal action, or an approximate
relation in their component parts, or in their ultimate analysis, to those compound
preparations dispensed under a proprietory name as stamped medicines, and usually
called nostrums or secret medicines: or other ascertained and well known simple
or compound medicines, or medicinal preparations, not being proprietory medicines,
in the following manner, or in the specified modifications thereof; so that, a more
certain knowledge of medicines and their effects may be diffused, and that greater
security and accuracy, or more efficiency, convenience and safety may also be
attained in their use or administration.
I divide the following description of the manner in which I prepare or dispense
medicines into eight sections.
1. When dispensing any one of the simple vegetable substances used as allopathic
medicines, either in the natural state or pulverized; or in any of the forms usually
adopted; such as extract, tincture, infusion or decoction; I place any required
quantity of the medicine in a wrapper, case, box, bottle or package, to which I affix
a label or labels, having the following particulars printed or written thereon, viz.,
the name of the plant producing the medicine, its original or indigenous place of
growth, the part of the plant used, the name of the particular form of the medicine,
the general therapeutical effects, and principal use of the medicine; directions for
using the medicine, including the recognized dose for adults and children by weight
or measure, or both, and the time or mode of using or administration: and I may
give each particular medicine a different reference number which I also place on
the label: I may also state on the label the quantity of the medicine, and of the
water, spirit, or other menstruum, if any, by weight or measure; and the number
of doses; and also whether the medicine is subject to spontaneous change or decay:

page_text: I may also state the synonymes, if any, of the medicine; and for comparison and
instruction give the names of other vegetable substances or medicines having
similar or approximate properties and action. When the medicines are placed in
bottles, I may also stamp the cork with the name of the medicine, or with the
reference number on the label, and affix an additional smaller label over the cork
and neck of the bottle with the name of the medicine and reference number
printed thereon: or I may cover the cork and neck of the bottle with a metallic
capsule covering having the reference number stamped on it. If the bottle has not
the number of doses it contains, measured off by equidistant marks or lines from
top to bottom blown in the glass, I may fix on the bottle a strip of paper having
these marks printed on it. When a bottle or package is too small to take a label
as above, I fix a label on the bottle or package with the reference number and the
name of the medicine, and I supply a separate wrapper or label along with the
bottle or package, having a corresponding reference number and the particulars as
before mentioned printed thereon. I may also place any number of these bottles
or packages thus labelled in small compartments or divisions of a medicine chest,
when I prefer also to place the reference number of each medicine in proximity to
its special compartment; and to fix inside the lid a corresponding label to that on
each bottle or package. I may also stitch or fix in a temporary manner any
required number of the bottles or packages thus labelled, on a large card; when
prefer also to fix duplicate labels on the card, or to print thereon the names of
the medicines attached.
:
2. Simple vegetable extracts formed into solid pills with or without any gum or
menstruum; or combined with gum, gelatine, sugar of milk, vegetable sugar or
starch and made into lozenges; may be prepared or dispensed by placing them in a
wrapper, case, box, bottle or package in any required quantity, and affixing a label
as described in first section: but I prefer when I place a special index or reference
number, letter or name on the label; to place a similar number, letter or name on each
of the pills or lozenges, by pressing them in moulds of the size and shape wanted;
having the number, letter or name embossed stamped or engraved inside; or each
pill or lozenge may be separately wrapped in paper or parchment having the
number, letter, or name printed thereon: or the lozenges; and the pills when sugar-
coated or enamel-coated with French chalk can have the number, letter, or name
placed on them in any inert or innocuous ink, by printing them with type, or a
small stencil plate, or by transferring it from paper, or by writing it with a pen.
3. Simple chemical substances, or animal products used as allopathic medicines,
either alone or combined with a menstruum, are prepared or dispensed by placing
the required quantity in a wrapper, case, box, bottle or package; to which a label
is affixed giving the name, general therapeutical effects, and principal uses of the
medicine; the dose for adults and children by weight and measure or either, and
the time and mode of using or administration: and I may also place a reference
number and state the synonymes, if any, of the medicine; and label the bottles, or
place the medicines in chests or on cards as described in first section.
4. Compound officinal remedies or medicines, or other well known non-
proprietory compound medicines, medicinal preparations, or extemporaneous
proscriptions, are prepared or dispensed by placing the required quantity in a
wrapper, case, box, bottle or package; to which is affixed a label stating the name
of the medicine, the name and quantity of each ingredient in the medicine, the
general therapeutical effects and principal uses of the medicine, the dose for adults
or children, or both, by weight or measure, and the time or mode of using or
administration; and I may also state the therapeutical effects of each ingredient;
and give each medicine a reference number; and state the synonymes, if any, of
the medicine; and place them in chests or on cards in the manner described in first
section. When the compound medicine is in the form of pills or lozenges, I prefer
also to mark them as in second section. When in the form of a plaster, I place or
print the label on the back of it. When in the form of medicinal soap, I place the

page_text: label on a case or wrapper round it, and I may also stamp the soap with the names
and quantities of the medicinal ingredients, therapeutical effect and reference
number. The labels on compound external medicines may have the quantity
necessary for an application, instead of a dose. For comparison and instruction
I may also place on the labels the names of other compound medicines having
similar therapeutical effects; and the names and analysis of nostrums or pro-
prietory medicines, approximate in their ingredients or component parts, and
therapeutical effects.
5. In preparing or dispensing dynamic or homeopathic vegetable medicines, in the
liquid form; I place them in bottles and affix a label giving the homeopathic name
of the medicine, the name of the plant producing it, the part of the plant used, the
dynamic number of the dilution or potency, the dose, and time and mode of
using or administration; the principal ascertained and recognized indications and
recommendations for the use of the medicine; and I number or letter these
indications, or so place them in successive order, that they may also shew or denote
approximately or as near as possible, the power of the curative action of the
medicine in each symptom or indication, in accordance with the ascertained degree
of its strength or force shown in its allopathic or primary action. I may state on
the label also the names and dilutions of other dynamic medicines having an
approximate therapeutical action(
by also give each
abel wrapper; and
-
medicine a reference number; or
place them in a chest or on a card as described in the first section.
6. I prepare or dispense dynamic chemical medicines in the liquid form by
placing them in bottles and affixing a label with the homeopathic name, and
synonymes, if any, of the medicine, and the other particulars in the manner
specified in fifth section.
7. I prepare or dispense dynamic inedicines in the solid or pilule form, by placing
them in bottles or boxes, the vegetable medicines being labelled as described in the
fifth section; and the chemical as described in the sixth section. But for the
purpose of stamping each separate dose with a name, number or letter, corre-
sponding to that on the label; I may add a sufficient quantity of the sugar of milk,
vegetable sugar or starch; and press them in moulds or mark them in the manner
described in the second section.
8. The paper used for the labels described in the foregoing sections; and the-ink
for printing or writing them may be of any colour desired; and the labels may be
placed on one or all sides of a bottle, box, or package. I may use a black coloured
paper for external medicine labels; white for allopathic internal medicines; blue
for homeopathic medicines; and green for allopathic simple herbal remedies; with
contrasting inks. I prefer to print all the foregoing or before mentioned labels in
English, or English and Latin; but other languages may also be used. For the
purpose of printing any of the labels a type writer may be used. On the labels
affixed to simple vegetable allopathic or homeopathic medicines, I may also place a
plain or coloured engraving of the plant. To distinguish medicines prepared or
dispensed in this manner I name those in the first, second third & fourth sections,
guaranteed medicines ΟΙ guaranteed allopathic medicines"; those in the fifth,
sixth and seventh sections "guaranteed homeopathic medicines" or "guaranteed
dynamic medicines." I also name the lozenges prepared or dispensed as in second
and fourth sections "guaranteed medical lozenges"; and the lozenges prepared or
dispensed seventh section I call "guaranteed dynamic lozenges," or "guaranteed
homeopathic lozenges."
"
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First. Preparing or dispensing ascertained and well known medicines (with the
exception always of those medicinal substances or preparations, dispensed under

page_text: the provisions of The Pharmacy Act 1868, and the amendments thereto) in the
manner described in the eight foregoing sections: more particularly, preparing or
dispensing the allopathic remedies described in the first, second, third and fourth
sections, in the manner therein specified; preparing or dispensing the homeopathic
medicines described in the fifth sixth, and seventh sections in the manner therein
specified; preparing and dispensing the medicines as specified in the eighth
section.