pastillus

Pastillus is a historical term for a small paste-like dosage form used in medicine. It typically consists of a sweet or sticky base containing one or more active ingredients, formed into a flat disc or oblong shape and dried for storage. The word derives from Latin pastillus, a diminutive of pasta meaning paste, and is related to the modern term pastille.

Historically, pastilli appeared in Greek and Roman pharmacopoeias and persisted into medieval and early modern pharmacy as a convenient way to deliver medicines and improve palatability. Apothecaries prepared them by mixing honey or sugar with gums such as tragacanth or Arabic, sometimes adding resins, aromatic oils, or mineral substances. The medicament was dispersed in the paste, poured into molds or pressed into shapes, and allowed to dry.

In practice, pastilli served therapeutic and, in some contexts, culinary roles, functioning as cough lozenges, digestive aids, or flavor-enhanced medicated pastes. Regional and temporal variations produced different bases and active ingredients, reflecting local tastes and pharmacopoeial traditions.

Today, the term pastillus is largely obsolete in professional pharmacology. Modern descriptions typically refer to lozenges, pastilles, or tablets rather than pastilli. When encountered in historical texts, pastillus usually denotes a small medicated paste rather than a contemporary pill. In culinary or cultural contexts, related terms such as pastille may be used to describe candy- or lozenge-like treats.

See also: pastille, lozenge, tablet.