Abstract: Sodium N-acetylneuraminate trihydrate herein provided is represented by the following formula: ##STR1## The sodium N-acetylneuraminate trihydrate can be prepared, for instance, according to a method which comprises the steps of: dissolving sodium N-acetylneuraminate in water or in a mixture of water and an organic solvent; allowing the resulting solution to stand; precipitating and separating the resulting crystals of sodium N-acetylneuraminate.trihydrate; and then drying the separated crystals. The sodium N-acetylneuraminate trihydrate has very low hygroscopicity and hence can be handled without any difficulty in the form of powder.

Abstract: An inhaler in use for inhaling pharmaceutical powdered preparations through the mouth and making the same reach a trachea, bronchi and pulmonary cells. The inhaler has a generally bent form with a predetermined bend angle, preferably, at 60 degrees. The inhaler includes a hollow body, a capsule holding portion for receiving and holding a capsule, and an inhaling section. The capsule holding portion is rotated relative to a hollow body, whereby the capsule is divided into two including a barrel and a head, so that the powdered preparations can fall into the hollow body. The powdered preparations, which have fallen into the hollow body can be inhaled into a human body together with intake air flowing through air intake openings provided in the capsule holding portion by mouth suction applied to the inhaling section. The capsule barrel which has fallen into the hollow body is prevented from being inhaled into the human body due to the presence of a porous member.