Abstract: A device by which powdered medicaments can be orally or nasally administered to a patient comprises a body shell defining a portion of a chamber. A nozzle or mouthpiece is located at the forward end of the body shell. The body shell is open at the rear end. A sleeve is fitted on the outside of the rear end portion of the body shell and is rotatable and axially movable with respect to it. The sleeve has a rear wall which closes the open rear end of the chamber. A capsule retaining means extends through the rear wall of the sleeve into the chamber. The capsule retaining means has an external entry opening for a capsule at the rear of the sleeve. An abutment is fixed inside the chamber in such a position with respect to the retaining means that a capsule retained in the retaining means and projecting from it into the chamber will engage the abutment when the sleeve is rotated with respect to the body shell. This separates the projecting portion of the capsule from the remainder of the capsule.

Abstract: A sterilizing solution for contact lenses particularly those formed of a hydrophilic polymer comprises (a) an alkali metal salt of formic acid, and (b) an iodophor selected from the group consisting of complexes of iodine with hydrophilic polymer and non-ionic surface active agent. The alkali metal salt and the iodophor are present in predetermined quantities such that the sterilizing solution contains sufficient alkali metal salt to reduce the available iodine level of the sterilizing solution to substantially zero within a period of from 30 minutes to 8 hours at a temperature of from 20.degree. to 25.degree. C. The iodophor and the alkali metal salt of formic acid may be packaged in solid or powdered form, particularly in unit doses, and made into solution at the point of use.

Abstract: An inhalation device by which powdered medicaments can be orally or nasally inhaled by a patient through a nozzle. A hollow body shell has a chamber therein. An air inlet leads into the chamber. A capsule retaining means has an inlet opening outside the chamber through which the capsule can be inserted. The retaining means is arranged to retain an inserted capsule with a portion of the capsule body projecting into the chamber as well as to squeeze and deform the overlapping portions of the capsule body and capsule cap. A capsule opening means is located inside the chamber. Said opening means and said retaining means are relatively movable and are so disposed that relative movement between them brings the projecting portion of an inserted capsule and the opening means into engagement with one another so as to separate the capsule body from the capsule cap. A guard prevents the separated capsule body from passing through the nozzle.

Abstract: An aqueous solution for treating glaucoma comprises 0.1-5.0% of a specially purified catecholamine e.g., epinephrine, 0.5-5.0% of a thiol, e.g., N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an acid compound unless the thiol is acid) to solubilize the catecholamine and a base e.g., NH.sub.4 OH to bring the pH to 6.0-7.5, the solution being free from borate ions. The acid compound, if used can be e.g., lactic acid, which may be buffered with ammonium lactate, or ammonium dihydrogen phosphate; preferably alkali metal ions are avoided. Guanethidine or like compounds which potentiate epinephrine can also be present.