GB2101955A - Container for oral doses - Google Patents

Abstract

A containier for a gelatinous composition comprises a tightly sealable cylindrical container of any desired cross-section, adapted to hold a gelatinous composition, an opening 5 for the admission of air at one end and an opening 2 for discharging the gelatinous composition at the other end, the container having a volume large enough to hold the composition in an amount corresponding to one or two doses, which can be sucked into the mouth. Annular protuberances may be provided, to make some resistance to the passage of the composition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container for gelatinous compositions The present invention is concerned with a container which is convenient for the single-dose oral administration of a gelatinous composition containing an active component, such as a medicament which has a beneficial effect upon human health.

The forms in which active components, such as medicaments which have a beneficial effect on human health, have heretofore been advantageously administered orally include liquids, gels, capsules, tablets, powders and the like.

Among other forms of such active components, gels have been proposed as a form particularly suitable for swallowing (see Japanese Patent Specification No. 97220/1981). For example, senburi (Swertiae herba) which is decocted and taken orally as a stomachictonic is too bitter to be used with pleasure. When the decoction of this herb is converted into a gel, the bitterness felt by the tongue is decreased to a great extent, so that the user can swallow the tonic, while hardly tasting the bitterness. Naturally fermented vinegar, such as apple vinegar, is well known to promote health. It is, however, too sour to be taken in neat form. Some herb medicines, such as goshuyoto (an aqueous extract of (Evodiae fructus) are unpalatable. When these substances are converted into gels, they can be easily swallowed.

However, the gelatinous compositions which are easily swallowable as described above are not easily handled or preserved. It is not easy for gelatinous medicines to be dispensed in correct doses at the time of administration. Liquid and powdered medicines are easily preserved insofar as proper containers are readily available. They can be easily dispensed in correct doses prior to administration insofar as suitable measuring containers are available. In contrast, gelatinous compositions have the disadvantage that they do not permit easy measurement and render the oral administration of accurate doses difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for a gelatinous composition which permits easy storage of the gelatinous composition with such a difficult property and which permits the gelatinous composition to be very simply administered orally in an accurate dose by one inhalation, for example by suction of airthrough the mouth.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a container for a gelatinous composition suitable for single-dose oral administration, which comprises a tightly sealable cylindrical container of any desired cross-section adapted to hold therein the gelatinous composition, an opening formed for the admission of air at one end of the cylindrical container and an opening formed for discharging the stored gelatinous composition at the other end of the cylindrical container.

The cylindrical container has an inner volume large enough to hold an amount of the gelatinous composition sufficient for one dose or two doses. In other words, the container of the present invention for a gelatinous composition has a size which is large enough to hold therein a gelatinous composition in an amount fit for enabling a human to swallow once or at most twice. It is constructed so that, in addition to the opening for discharging a gelatinous composition, the opening for admitting air into the cylindrical container is formed at one end of the cylindrical container. Thus, the air required for discharging the gelatinous composition can be introduced through this opening for air inlet.This container is, accordingly, capable of dispensing one dose of the gelatinous composition for oral administration by one inhalation of the breath, such a suction of air into the user's mouth (even a child's mouth) or by tilting the cylindrical container enough for one dose of the gelatinous composition to flow naturally through the discharge opening into the user's mouth.

The amount of gelatinous composition to be placed into the container of the present invention is preferably such that one dose thereof falls in the range of 1 to 50 ml. and preferably 10 to 30 ml. From this container, the gelatinous composition is discharged in the shape of a column into the user's mouth. The lateral width of the preferred circular cross-section of this column of the gelatinous composition, namely, the diameter of the opening for discharging the gelatinous composition, is preferably in the range of from 5 to 20 mm.

A preferred embodiment of the construction which permits the opening for ai introduction to be formed at one end of the tightly sealable cylindrical container of the present invention includes a construction wherein a lid is freely detachably screwed or firmly inserted into the opening at one end of the cylindrical container, a construction wherein a lid adapted to be broken (i.e. is not resealable) by the application of force is attached firmly to the opening at one end of the cylindrical container, and a construction wherein a slender, tightly sealed protuberance, which is easily cut open with scissors or a knife, is integrally formed at one end of the cylindrical container. Generally, the size of the opening for air introduction may be small.

Preferred embodiments of the construction which permits the opening for discharge of the gelatinous composition to be formed at the other end of the tightly sealable cylindrical container may be similar to the preferred embodiments described above for the formation of the opening for air introduction. The shape and diameter of the discharge opening are preferably substantially equal to the shape and inner diameter of the cylindrical container. When the container is intended exclusively for oral administration of the gelatinous composition by the suction of air through the user's mouth, the inside diameter of the discharge opening is preferably in the range of from 5 to 20 mm. to suit the particular type of administration.

As described above, the container of the present invention for a gelatinous composition has openings formed at the opposite ends of the tightly sealable container so that a gelatinous composition present therein may be discharged conveniently for oral administration. The container is preferably so constructed that the gelatinous composition present therein will not inadvertently fall through the opening. To be specific, the inner wall of the cylindrical container is given a different shape adapted to offer resistance to the movement of the gelatinous composition in the discharge direction thereof in order that the galatinous composition may be allowed to flow naturally through the discharge opening of the cylindrical container but may be discharged through the opening only by the suction of air down the interior of the cylindrical container.

Atypical example of the altered shape of the inner wall of the cylindrical container is a recess or protuberance, which may be formed in the shape of dots or a ring on the inner wall of the cylindrical container.

The shape and size of the alteration given to the inner wall of the container for the gelatinous composition as described above are variable with the elasticity, surface resistance and the like exhibited by the gelatinous composition actually present in the container and, therefore, cannot be governed by a general rule. When the galatinous composition contains agar in a concentration of, for example, 2%, the inside diameter of the discharge end of the cylindrical container is preferably smoothly reduced by 5 to 20% or the inner wall of the discharge end of the cylindrical container is provided with annular protuberances or recesses adapted to offer the same resistance as the convergence.Owing to the resistance which is offered by the alteration of the inner wall, the gelatinous composition present in the container is prevented from flowing down but is discharged only by the suction of air into the user's mouth. When the container of the present invention is designed in a size suitable for swallowing the gelatinous composition twice, it is preferable to provide a mark on the outer middle part of the container.

Examples of material for the container of the present invention include glass, heatproof synthetic resin, thin aluminium sheet and paper coated with heatproof synthetic resin to repel water. When a heatproof synthetic resin is used, it must, of course, be one which does not release harmful substances. Polypropylene resin is a typical example of a material which satisfies this requirement.

The lids for closing the openings in the cylindrical container may be plugs made of rubber or plastics when the cylindrical container is made of glass or a heatproof plastics substance. The lids may be firmly attached with an adhesive agent or heat sealed airtightly when the cylindrical containers are bags made of aluminium, heatproof paper or a plastics substance.

The container of the present invention for holding a gelatinous composition to be used for single-dose oral administration can hold a gelatinous composition containing one dose of a main component. Therefore, the user enjoys oral administration of the required dosage of the main component by carrying on his person as many containers of the present invention as are required, taking their contents at prescribed intervals and disposing of the emptied containers. Thus, the container of the present invention provides convenient portability and ready disposability.

Many medicines have better, astringent or pungent tastes. Unlike aqueous solutions of such medicines, gelatinous compositions prepared specifically for oral administration do not diffuse their unpleasant taste throughout the entire oral cavity, mitigate the objectionable taste and, therefore, are suitable for swallowing.

A typical example of a gelatinous composition which can advantageously be used in the container of the present invention is prepared by compounding one dose of a water-soluble, orally-administrable main component and a pharmaceutically acceptable, chemically inactive gelling agent to the main component taken in an amount required for amply gelling the resultant mixture, optionally in conjunction with small amounts of a sweetening agent, taste enhancer, spice and colouring agent, as well as water in the amount required to make up the gelatinous composition, heating the resultant composition to give a uniform solution, placing this solution in the container of the present invention and cooling the content of the container to give a jelly.

The main component for the gelatinous composition can be any water-soluble or water-dispersible, orally administrable medicine which serves to cure or prevent human disease or to promote human health.

Examples of medicines which are advantageously used with the container of the present invention include water-soluble extracts of herb medicines and drugs (such as kakkonto (Puerariaesp.), senburiekisu (Swertiae herba extract), shoseiryuto (Ephedrae sp.) and yokuinin (Coicis speed) and water-soluble, orally administrable synthetic medicines and drugs (such as water-soluble vitamins, water-soluble amino acids and water-soluble antibiotics).

The gelling agent is required to be pharmaceutically acceptable. Examples of gelling agents which are advantageously used include agar, gelatine, powdered glue and powdered arrowroot starch. The amount of gelling agent to be used is such as to provide a thorough gelation of the main component. It is desired to be enough for the purpose of solidifying the medicine and, at the same time, imparting to the solidified medicine the fluidity which permits the gelled medicine placed in a slender cylindrical container to be easily sucked out.

From this point of view, we have ascertained that, based on the total amount of the gelatinous composition taken as 100 parts (hereinafter to be understood to mean parts by weight), the amount of agar is desired to be 1 to 3 parts, that of gelatine 2 to 10 parts, that of powdered glue 2 to 10 parts and that of powdered arrowroot starch 30 to 50 parts, respectively.

Any gelling agent can be used for the present invention, provided that it is chemically inert towards the main component. Numerous water-soluble extracts of herb medicines and drugs contain tannic components. For such extracts, it is desirable to use agar or powdered arrowroot starch. For synthetic medicines and drugs, it is preferable to use gelatine, agar or powdered arrowroot starch.

If desired, the gelatinous composition may contain small amounts of sweetening agent, taste enhancer, spice and colouring substance. Examples of sweetening agents include sugar, saccharine, dulcin, stevioside, glycyrrhizin, glucose, fructose and isomerised sugar. Examples of taste enhancers include inosinic acid, sodium glutamate and sodium ribonucleotide. As spices and colouring substances, synthetic and natural spices and colouring agents which are orally administrable and acceptable from the standpoint of food hygiene can be used.

The gelatinous composition suitable for storage in the container of the present invention is prepared by compounding the main component, the gelling agent and small amounts of the additives described above, plus water, in a total amount of 100 parts. The composition thus prepared is heated and, if necessary, thoroughly stirred in order to convert it into a uniform solution. This solution may be thermally sterilised immediately after preparation. If desired, thermal sterilisation of the composition can be carried out after it has been dispensed into the containers.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of one preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention for a gelatinous composition to be used for single-dose oral administration; Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sections of other preferred embodiments of the container of the present invention; Figure 4 is a left-hand side view of the container of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross-section of the container of Figure 5; Figures 7 and 8 are a side view of another preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention and a cross-section thereof taken along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7; and Figures 9 and 10 are side views of further preferred embodiments of the container of the present invention.

In Figure 1, 1 denotes a tightly closed cylindrical body of a circular cross-section made of polypropylene resin and 2 one end of the cylindrical body which forms the discharge side of the contents. The terminal end shape of a first opening 3 on the discharge side is substantially identical with the cross-section of the cylindrical body.

4 denotes the end of the other side which is provided with a second opening 5. The opening 5 is to serve as an air inlet, namely a hole for admission of air. To fulfil this purpose, the opening 5 is not required to have as large a diameter as the opening on the discharge side. It may be of any desired size.

6 denotes a tightly fitted lid for closing the opening 3 on the discharge side and 7 denotes a lid for closing the opening 5.

This lid can be placed so as to crown the opening at the end by means of a screw 8a or a snapper 9a, as illustrated in Figure 2 or Figure 3, respectively. In Figure 3, lOb denotes finger rests raised from the edges of the snapping lids 6b and 7b to facilitate removal of the snap lids.

For the gelatinous composition to be contained in the tightly closed cylindrical container constructed as described above, it is only required to be fluidised, by the application of heat by any conventional method, sufficient to be poured into the container. The introduction of the fluidised composition can, therefore, be made through either of the openings.

After the composition has been poured into the container, the container is immediately closed tightly and sterilely and then cooled to convert the fluidised composition into a gel. Consequently, the container and the composition present therein will jointly assume the form of canned goods and, therefore, ensure prolonged preservation.

When the gelatinous composition is desired to be discharged from the container, the user only has to remove the lids on the opposite ends and tilt the container so as to direct the first opening 3 downwardly or put the first opening in his mouth and suck out the contents. Consequently, the gelatinous composition inside the container slides down the inner wall of the container in one mass and is easily discharged. This discharge of the gelatinous composition is effected hygienically and safely because the composition, while flowing out of the container, is not touched by the hands orfingers.

When the lid for the opening on the air inlet side is attached by means of a screw, as illustrated in Figure 2, it is highly convenient for the discharge of the composition because the discharge speed of the gelatinous composition can be adjusted by suitably varying the engagement between the lid and the opening and, consequently, changing the rate of air passage through the gap into the container interior.

As described above, the container of the present invention permits the gelatinous composition to be very easily discharged. Therefore, it has the effect of uniformalising the dose rate of the composition because none of the composition sticks to the inner wall of the container.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6;a a cylindrical container proper 11 is made of polypropylene resin. 12 denotes a small opening provided in the end part of the container proper, 13 denotes a cap and 14 denotes an opening for discharge by suction. A cap 15 is firmly fitted to the opening 14. An annular protuberance 16 is formed at a position close to the discharge opening 14. At the corresponding position, a recess 17 is formed on the inner wall 18 of the container.

20 denotes a gelatinous composition present inside the container proper which has been introduced into the container in a fluidised state through either of the openings mentioned above. Therefore, the gelatinous composition in the container has the same shape as the interior of the container. For oral administration of the gelatinous composition 20, the user only has to remove the caps 13 and 15, apply his mouth to the discharge opening 14 and suck out the composition. Owing to the negative pressure applied consequently to the gelatinous composition 20, the composition slides down the inner wall of the container in the direction of the arrow A shown in Figure 6.While the annular protuberance 20' formed on the gelatinous composition by the annular recess 17 is moving in the zone 19 of the container, i.e. the distance between the recess 17 to the opening end, this protuberance 20' remains in a compressed state and receives a fixed resistance determined by the rigidity and other factors of the gelatinous composition. Therefore, during the passage of the annular protuberance through this zone, the gelatinous composition slides at a relatively low speed. The resistance exerted to the annular protuberance is lost as soon as the annular protuberance 20' slides past the opening end. From this moment, the gelatinous composition is quickly discharged from the container and thrown into the mouth.

The zone 19 for passage resistnce may be situated in any desired position. The position of the annular protuberance 16 formed on the periphery of the container is automatically determined by the length of the zone 19.

Depending upon the nature of the gelatinous composition, the recess 17 may be formed with a large depth such that the annular protuberance 20' formed correspondingly on the gelatinous composition may be cut off from the cylinder of the composition and left in the container when the gelatinous composition is discharged from the interior of the container.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The opening for the admission of air is formed by cutting of a projection 22. In this case, the passage resistance is generated by a plurality of dotted protuberances 24 raised from the inner wall of the container proper. These dotted protuberances 24 are disposed at a position farther from the opening end on the discharge side.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate other preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiment of Figure 9, the inner wall of the container proper converges with a slant 25a to give rise to a constriction 26, which serves to generate the desired passage resistance to the gelatinous composition. In the embodiment of Figure 10,27 denotes a constriction, 28 a tight stopper made of rubber and 29 a metal foil.

The containers illustrated in Figures 5 to 10 are so constructed that, even when both ends are opened, the gelatinous composition present therein does not drop out due to gravity. Even during the initial stage of the suction, they are subject to weak passage resistance. Thus, their users enjoy the moderate speed at which the gelatinous compositions are swallowed. Therefore, they can be advantageously used as dispensers for medicines, the direct oral administration of which is difficult for some reason or other.

The Examples describe the formulations of gelatinous compositions which can be used in a container according to the present invention: FORMULATION 1 Herb medicine, kakkonto (Puerariaesp.) (for the cure of colds) One day's dose of 25 g of kakkonto (Puerariae sp.), consisting of 8.0 g. of kakkon (Puerariae radix), 4.0 g. of maou (Ephedrae herba), 4.0 g. of taiso (Zizyphifructus), 3.0 g of keihi (Cinnamomicortex), 3.09 of shakuyaku (Paeoniae radix), 2.0 g. of kanzo (Glycyrrhizae ridix), and 1.0 g of shokyo (Zingiberis rhizoma), was chopped up, placed in 700 ml. of water and extracted for one hour at a temperature sufficient to ensure gentle boiling. The mixture was then filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to 25 ml.The concentrate was mixed with 0.3 g. of powdered agar and then diluted with water to give a total volume of 30 ml. The resultant mixture was thoroughly stirred, while heating, to produce a solution. This solution was dispensed, while hot, in 10 ml. amounts into paper containers lined with aluminium foil and acceptable for food contact. The paper containers were tightly sealed with an adhesive agent, sterilised at 11 0"C. under pressure for 40 minutes and then left to stand overnight in a cool place. Three bags of the medicine are administered orally per day, one each during three separate periods on an empty stomach.

FORMULATION 2: Herb medicine, shoseiryuto (for the cure of colds) One day's dose of 27 g of shoseiryuto (Ephedrae sp.), consisting of 3.0 g. each of maou (Ephedrae herba), shakuyaku (Paeoniae radix), shokyo (Zingiberis rhizoma), kanzo (Glycyrrhizae radix), keihi (Cinnamoni cortex), saishin (Asiasariradix) and gomishi (Schizandrae fructos) and 6 g. of hange (Pinelliae tuber) is decocted and the decoction administered orally. A 27 kg. mixture consisting of the same proportions of the components as mentioned above was placed in 10 times its volume of water, extracted by boiling for 3 hours and filtered. This treatment was repeated twice. The filtrates were combined and vacuum concentrated at a temperature not exceeding 80 C. to a volume of 27 litres. The concentrate was mixed with 600 g. of powdered agar, 210 g. of sucrose, 3.0 g. of naphthol yellow as a colouring agent and 0.3 g of citral as a flavouring and the resultant mixture was diluted with water to a total volume of 30 litres. The dilute mixture was sterilised at 110 C. for 40 minutes, placed in a sterile room and dispensed in 10 ml. amounts into sterilised cylindrical containers of plastics material with the use of a sterilised dispensing device. The filled containers were stoppered with a plastics plug. Consequently, an easily swallowable shoseiryuto (Ephedrae sp.) having the aroma of lemon was obtained as a medicine for treating colds. Three containers of the medicine are adminstered orally, each on three separate occasions.

FORMULATION 3: Senburi (Swertiae herba) {bitterstomachic tonic), 10 kg. of senburi (Swertiae herba) were mixed with 100 litres of water. The mixture was extracted by gentle boiling for one hour. The extract was filtered hot. This treatment was repeated twice. All the filtrates were combined. The combined filtrate was vacuum concentrated at a temperature not exceeding 80"C. to a volume of 28 litres. The concentrate was mixed with 200 g. of fructose as a sweetening agent, 30 g. of stevioside and 600 g. of powdered agar and then diluted with water to a total volume of 30 litres. The dilute mixture was stirred at an elevated temperature until transparent.It was dispensed hot in 10 ml. amounts (corresponding to 3.3 g. of senburi (Swertiae herba) into heatproof bag-like containers lined with metal foil.

The containers were tightly sealed with an adhesive agent, sterilised at 110"C. for 40 minutes and allowed to cool overnight to solidify their contents.

Three containers of the medicine are administered orally per day, one each on three separate occasions.

By means of this formulation, a medicine with a strongly bitter taste, such as senburi (Swertiae herba) can be converted into a sweet, easily swallowable medicine.

FORMULATION 4: Yokuinin (Coicis seeds) (health preserver, wart remover and preventative against rough skin).

Yokuinin (Coicis seeds) is a medicine widely used as health preserver or as folk medicine. Generally, 15 g.

of yokuinin (Coicis seeds) are decocted and the decoction taken daily.

15 kg. of yokuinin (Coicis seeds) and 150 litres of water were mixed. The mixture was extracted by gentle boiling for one hour and the extract was filtered. This treatment was repeated twice. All the filtrates were combined. The combined filtrate was vacuum concentrated to 15 kg. The concentrate was thoroughly stirred with 300 g of sugar, 30 g. of stevioside and 12 kg. of powdered arrowroot starch and then diluted with water to a total weight of 30 kg. The diluted mixture was stirred hot until transparent. The resultant composition was dispensed hot in 15 g. amounts into water-proof bag-like containers lined with metal foil. The containers were tightly sealed with an adhesive agent. They were sterilised with steam at 1 00'C. for one hour and then allowed to cool overnight.

Two containers of the medicine are administered orally per day, one each on two separate occasions. By means of the formulation described above, yokuinin (Coicis seeds) can be converted into something like a jelly cake which is delicious to take.

FORMULATION 5: Methionine (for the cure ofhepatic diseases).

Methionine is administered orally in a daily dose of 3 g. for the cure of hepatic diseases. It has a peculiar odour and is difficult to swallow. By means of the formulation described hereinafter, it assumes the aroma of lemons and a sweet taste and becomes easily swallowable. For example, 300 g. of methionine were mixed with 30 g. of sugar, 0.03 g. of lemon gurasuyu (Oleum cymbopogonis citrati) and 150 g. of a powdered glue.

The mixture was diluted with water to a total of 3 litres. The dilute mixture was hot stirred to ensure complete dissolution. The solution was filtered. The filtrate was dispensed hot in 10 ml. amounts into cylindrical synethetic resin containers of about 12 mm. inside diameter and about 10 cm. length, the lower end being tightly sealed with a metal foil. The upper openings of the containers were tightly sealed with a metal foil, vacuum sterilised at 11 0'C. for 40 minutes and allowed to cool overnight to solidify their contents. Oral administration of the medicine was accomplished by removing the metal foils on the upper and lower openings of the containers and sucking out the contents. Three containers of the medicine are administered orally per day, one each on three separate occasions.

FORMULATION 6: Vitamin B complex preparation.

Patients suffering from vitamin B deficiency are generally given a mixture of the four vitamins listed below as a vitamin B group, to be administered orally. This mixture has a bitter taste and a peculiar odour. In its uni altered form, this mixture is very difficu It to swallow. When this mixture is formulated to suit the container of the present invention, the preparation produced can be taken as a jelly cake having the aroma of lemon and a sweet taste. The following components were mixed in the indicated amounts and finally diluted with water to give a total volume of 100 ml.: thiamine nitrate (vitamine B) 10 g.

riboflavin (vitamin B2) 10 g.

pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) 10 g.

nicotinic acid amide 100 g.

naphthol yellow S (colouring agent) 0.1 g.

citral (flavouring) 0.02 g.

gelatine 40 9.

The mixture thus obtained was thoroughly stirred and heated to ensure complete dissolution. The solution was filtered. The filtrate was dispensed hot in 1 ml. amounts into cylindrical resin containers of about 5 mm.

inside diameter and about 6 cm. length, the lower opening being tightly sealed with a metal foil. The upper openings of the containers were tightly sealed with a metal foil. They were sterilised at 1 10"C. under pressure for 40 minutes and then allowed to cool overnight to solidify their contents.

Oral administration of the medicine was effected by removing the metal foils at the upper and lower openings of the containers and sucking the medicine into the mouth.

Three containers of the medicine are administered orally per day, one each on three separate occasions.

FORMULATION 7: 50 ml. of apple vinegar, 48 ml. of water and 2 g. of agar were mixed and dissolved by the application of heat. The resultant solution was placed to a height of 80% in a cylindrical container of synthetic resin of 15 mm. inside diameter and 70 mm. length, with the lower opening tightly plugged and the upper opening portion smoothly converged to an inside diameter of 12 mm. (Figure 10). The upper opening of the container was tightly sealed with a metal foil. It was cooled to solidify the solution contained therein. Oral administration of the solution was effected by removing the metal foil from the lower opening and sucking the contents upwardly through the upper end of the container.

Claims (13)

1. A container for a gelatinous composition, which comprises a tightly sealable cylindrical container of any desired cross-section, adapted to hold therein a gelatinous composition, an opening formed for the admission of air at one end of said cylindrical container and an opening formed for discharging the gelatinous composition at the other end of the cylindrical container, the cylindrical container having an inner volume large enough to hold the gelatinous composition in an amount corresponding to one or two doses.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein one dose of the gelatinous composition is in the range of from 1 to 50 ml.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening for the discharge of the gelatinous composition has an inside diameter of from 5 to 20 mm.

4. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tightly closed cylindrical container is provided at one end thereof with an opening and a lid adapted to tightly close the opening so that the cylindrical container is given an opening for the discharge of the gelatinous composition by the release of the lid.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the inner wall of the cylindrical container has an altered wall surface capable of offering resistance to the flow of the gelatinous composition in the discharge direction, whereby the gelatinous composition is not allowed to be naturally discharged through the discharge opening formed at one end of said cylindrical container but can only be discharged by sucking.

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the altered wall surface is a recess or a protuberance.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the recess or the protuberance is formed annularly on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical container.

8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the recess or the protuberance is formed in the shape of a plurality of dots.

9. A container according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the recess is formed at a position close to one end of the cylindrical container at which an opening is formed for the discharge of the gelatinous composition.

10. A container according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the protuberance is formed at a position close to one end of the cylindrical container at which an opening is formed for the admission of air into the cylindrical container.

11. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gelatinous composition comprises an amount for one or two doses of a water-soluble or water-dispersible, orally administrable medicine, an amount necessary for gelation of a pharmaceutically acceptable gelling agent which is chemically inert towards the medicine and optionally containing small amounts of sweetening agent, taste enhancer, spice and colouring agent, the remaining amount being water.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the gelling agent is agar, gelatine, powdered glue or powdered arrowroot starch.

13. A container according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described and exemplified and with reference to the accompanying drawings.