Pill coating machine, France, 1915-1925

Pill coating machine for adding a sugar coat, machine-turned (?) copper drum on decorated brass pedestal, French, 1915-1925

Originally attached to a motor to rotate the copper drum, this machine was used to give pills and tablets a sugar coating. The copper drum was warmed and the gelatine or mucilage (a sticky glue-like substance) was added. Pills already dusted with sugar were added to the warm copper drum and rotated in the mucilage to make sure the sugar stuck to the pills. Sugar coated pills and tablets are easier to swallow and took away any bitter taste.