the housing containing drug component 7 after lyophilization the piston 12 is moved downwardly in tubular wall 1 to form a sliding nonvented sealed relationship with tubular wall 1 this position is shown in fig4 where a snap cap 15 or other closure is connected to an upper end of tubular wall 1 it is important to note that there is still a vent system between cap 15 and tubular wall 1 as shown for example at location 16 in fig4 only the portion of the housing above piston 12 is vented but a chamber 17 below piston 12 is not vented to the atmosphere conversely in the fig1 position of stopper 12 chamber 17 is vented to the atmosphere the length and diameter of the housing 1 can be varied to accomodate the necessary volume to illustrate this a housing 1 is shown longer in fig1 than in fig4 although lyophilization after filling has been described it may be desirable to have the powder bulk lyophilized and use a sterile powder filling technique fig2 shows a conventional hypodermic syringe 18 with an axially slidable stopper 19 connected to a plunger 20 a forward end of the syringe has a tubular externally tapered adapter 21 that is surrounded by a spaced collar 22 that has internal threads on such collar preferably adapter 21 extends beyond collar 22 for easy alignment with sleeve 4 of the housing prior to connecting the syringe and housing a closure 23 seals off an outlet in adapter 21 any number of different types of closures could be used as long as they provide an adequate seal the syringe of fig2 contains a liquid 24 such as sterile water or normal saline.