Acetas Ferri. Dub. Acetate of Iron

"Take of carbonate of iron, one part; acetic acid, six parts. Digest for three days and filter."

Syn. Acetate de Fer (F.). Acetato di Ferro (I.).

This preparation is a mild and efficacious chalybeate: but if the variety of forms in which iron is ordered to be prepared for medicinal purposes be considered, it will obviously appear to be superfluous.

Tinctura Acetatis Ferri. Dub. Tincture of Acetate of Iron

"Take of acetate of potassa, two parts; sulphate of iron, one part; rectified spirits of wine, twenty-six parts. Rub together the acetate of potassa and the sulphate of iron in a stone-ware mortar, until they unite into a soft mass; dry this with a moderate heat, and triturate it with the spirit; then put the mixture into a phial, cork it closely, and digest for seven days, frequently shaking it: finally, pour the clear tincture from off the faeces."

Tinctura Acetatis Ferri cum Alcohole, Dub. Tincture of Acetate of Iron with Alcohol.

"Take of sulphate of iron, acetate of potassa, each an ounce; alcohol, two pints. Rub together the acetate of potassa and the sulphate of iron in a stone-ware mortar, until they unite into a soft mass: then dry this with a moderate heat, and when it is cold, triturate it with the alcohol. Put the mixture into a phial, cork it closely, and digest for twenty-four hours, frequently shaking it: finally, pour the clear tincture from off the faeces."

Syn. Teinture de l'acetate de Fer (F.), Tinturo di Marte astringente (I.).

These two preparations differ in scarcely any thing except in strength; the theory of the formation of the acetate of iron being the same in both cases. During the process a double decomposition takes place; the sulphuric acid of the sulphate of iron leaves the iron and unites with the potassa of the acetate of potassa, while the disengaged acetic acid of the latter salt combines with the oxide of iron, forming acetate of iron, which is soluble in the alcohol. It is also probable that the oxide of iron absorbs oxygen during the trituration; and being thus more completely oxidized, the mass must contain, instead of an acetate, a binacetate of iron, which is more readily dissolved in the alcohol. The sulphate of potassa remains undissolved in both processes, with a small portion of uncombined oxide of iron, in the form of a brownish precipitate.

Qualities.-These preparations have a peculiar odour, and a warm, styptic taste. They are decomposed by the alkalies and their carbonates, and the strong acids, and by infusions of astringent vegetables, which are, therefore, incompatible in formulae with them.

Medical properties and uses. - The spirituous solutions of acetate of iron possess the same properties as the other preparations of this metal; but if the introduction of the simple acetate be superfluous, the double form of its spirituous solution is still more objectionable. Indeed, every advantage that can be expected from any of these forms of the acetate can be equally obtained from the potassio-tartrate of iron. And we cannot conceive that any particular benefit can result to practice from loading the list of remedies with all the multifarious combinations of which the same substance is susceptible. The dose of either of the tinctures may be from

x. to f 3j. given in a sufficient quantity of water, or any other proper vehicle.