The chemist and druggist, 15. September 1859
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Numerous clinical experiments have been made in London at the Lock Hospital, by Dr. William Lane, the Head Physician. This eminent practitioner has certified that Mathey-Calus's Capsules are not only the most convenient preparation of the kind, but also the best he has ever employed. These honourable testimonials in favour of our Capsules are the highest possible recom- mendation to the confidence of the public. PECULIAR ADVANTAGES OF MATHEY-CAYLUS'S CAPSULES. 1. Being formed of a light transparent envelope, perfectly impermeable, they present the Copaiba under an agreeable aspect, and allow of its being taken without difficulty, repugnance, or the least derangement of the digestive organs, in this respect differing much from comfits or capsules made of gelatine, so repulsive to patients, and the hard, thick, and voluminous envelope of which frequently makes them difficult to swallow. 2. The manner of making them absolutely requires, in order to be practicable, the use of perfectly pure Copaiba. This condition is a certain guarantee for their efficacy, as the action of Copaiba is in proportion to its purity. Gelatine capsules, on the contrary, may be filled with any kind of Copaiba, even adulterated, which is but too commonly the case. Indeed, some of these capsules have been found in the trade containing nothing but oil impregnated with Copaiba, or only spirits of turpentine, as recently proved, by analysis, on several occasions. * 3. Although smaller by one half than the gelatine capsules, they contain as much Copaiba, owing to their envelopes being much thinner. In fact, the Gluten Capsule weighs hardly two grains and a half, whilst the gelatine capsule at least fifteen grains—a fact which may be easily verified. 4. They never cause nausea, disagreeable eructations, or the fatiguing pains in the stomach so generally complained of by those who use other preparations of Copaiba, of whatever kind. This advantage is owing to the peculiar nature of the Gluten envelope which, notwithstanding its thinness, and, although it quickly softens in the stomach, still offers sufficient resistance to prevent its contents from escaping otherivise than slowly, and in the intestine only. 5. The specific action is such that a cure is usually effected in an average term of six days, and they always succeed in cases where other remedies have failed. 6. Lastly, their small and regular shape, so favourable to deglutition, their agreeable appear- ance, and the advantage of being perfectly free from the taste or smell of Copaiba, render their use unobjectionable even to persons who have the greatest aversion to medicine. Each Bottle contains 64 Capsules. N.B. Experience has proved that it is sometimes necessary to vary the treatment according to the persistence of the disease, and the constitution or sex of the patient. To meet this requirement we have also prepared Gluten Capsules containing different substances capable of modifying advantageously the effects of the Copaiba, or of acting in a peculiar manner on the particular causes of the disease. • Our Capsules have been analysed by Dr. Leseur, Chief of the Chemical Laboratory of the Paris Faculty or II f.dicine, and by Dr. Arthur Hill Hassall, physician to the Kotal Free Hospital, one of the first chemists of London; and both these gentlemen, after examining them with the greatest care, have attested their perfect purity.