Ferri Ammonio-Chloridum. Lond. Ammonio-Chloride of Iron

"Take of sesquioxide of iron, three ounces; hydrochloric acid, half a pint; hydrochlorate of ammonia, two pounds and a half; distilled water, three pints. Pour the hydrochloric acid upon the sesquioxide of iron, and digest in a sand bath for two hours: afterwards add the hydrochlorate of ammonia dissolved in distilled water; strain and evaporate all the fluid; finally, reduce what remains to powder."

Murias Ammoniae et Ferri, Edin. Muriate of Ammonia and of Iron.

"Take of red oxide of iron washed and again dried, muriate of ammonia, each, equal parts by weight. Mix them well together, and sublime by a quick fire. Reduce the sublimed salt to powder, and preserve it in a well-stopped phial."

In the process of the Edinburgh College, the theory of the operation is obvious: the sudden application of an intense heat enables the oxide of iron to decompose the hydrochlorate of ammonia and to unite with part of its acid, and at the same time it probably enters into that degree of combination with the ammonia, which exists in triple salts; the product being either a chloride of iron and ammonia, or a mixed mass of hydrochlorate of ammonia and chloride of iron. In the process of the London College, the sesquioxide of iron is dissolved in the acid; thence the formation of a sesquichlor-ide of iron, which is mixed with hydrochlorate of ammonia.

1 Ferrum ammoniacale, P. L. 1787, Flores Martiales, Ens Mart's, Flores auri, Calendulae minerales.

Qualities. - Ammonio-chloride of iron is not a definite compound, but a mixture consisting of 15 per cent. of ses-quichloride of iron + 85 of hydrochlorate of ammonia. It has an odour, resembling, in some degree, that of saffron, and a styptic taste. It is in crystalline grains of an orange-yellow colour; soluble in two parts of water, and also in alcohol; and deliquescent, on which account, it requires to be preserved in very well-stopped phials.

Medical properties and uses. - This preparation of iron is tonic, emmenagogue, and aperient. It was formerly much used in epilepsy, hysteria, chlorosis, scrofula, rickets, chronic rheumatism, and gout; but on account of the uncertainty of the preparation it is now seldom prescribed. The dose is from grs. v. to grs. xx. given twice or thrice a day.

Officinal preparation. - Tinctura Ferri Ammonio-chloridi, L.

Tinctura Ferri Ammonio-Chloridi

Lond.

Tincture of Ammonio-chloride of Iron.1

"Take of ammonio-chloride of iron, four ounces; proof spirit, a pint. Digest and filter."

This being merely a spirituous solution of ammonio-chloride of iron, it seems to be unnecessarily introduced into the Pharmacopoeia by the London College.

Tinctura Ferri Sesquichloridi. Lond. Tincture of Sesquichloride of Iron.

"Take of sesquioxide of iron, six ounces; hydrochloric acid, a pint; rectified spirit, three pints. Pour the acid over the sesquioxide of iron, in a glass vessel, and digest for three days, shaking them occasionally. Then add the spirit, and strain."

Edinburgh.

"Take of black oxide of iron, purified and reduced to powder, three ounces; muriatic acid, about ten ounces, or as. much as may be sufficient to dissolve the powder. Digest with a gentle heat, and the powder being dissolved, add as much alcohol as will make the whole liquor amount to two pounds and a half."

1 Tinctura Ferri Ammoniati, P. L. 1829.

Muriatis Ferri Liquor, Dub. Solution of Muriate of Iron.

"Take of rust of iron, one part; muriatic acid, rectified spirits of wine, of each six parts. Put the rust into a glass vessel, pour on the acid, and agitate it occasionally for three days; then set it aside, that the faeces may subside, and pour off the liquor: evaporate this slowly to one pint, and when it is cold, add the spirit."

Syn. Koch salzaure Eissentinktur (G.), Tinctura di muriato di Ferro (I.).

Of the formulae given for the preparation of this tincture, that of the London Pharmacopoeia is to be preferred. The metal, as ordered in it, is in a state of oxidizement, which admits of ready decomposition; water and chloride of iron are formed, the latter of which is a compound soluble in alcohol: whereas, by following the Edinburgh and Dublin processes, the solution is a mixture, the black oxide not being all completely oxidized2; and it is not till after the exposure to air, and by attracting oxygen, that it is brought into such a state as favours the decomposition requisite for forming the chloride. Hence the Edinburgh and Dublin preparations cannot be always of a uniform and fixed strength, which, for an active medicine, is a matter of much importance. When it is properly prepared according to the London formula, the chloride is a compound of 2 eq. of iron = 56+ 3 of chlorine = 106.26, making the equiv. = 162.26. (Fe.2 Cl.3)

Qualities. - The alcoholic solution of chloride of iron is of a brownish-yellow colour, has a peculiar aethereal odour, and an acid, very styptic taste. The sp. gr. is 0.99, and a fluid ounce contains 30 grains of sesquioxide of iron. With the alkalies and their carbonates it gives a red precipitate. It is also precipitated by lime-water, carbonates of lime and magnesia; strikes a black colour with infusions of astringent vegetables, and forms with mucilage of acacia gum an orange-coloured jelly. Hence these substances cannot enter into compositions with this tincture.

Medical properties and uses. - This is an active and elegant preparation of iron, well adapted for all the diseases in which chalybeates prove serviceable. I have found it more useful than any other tonic in scrofula: when it is given in doses, gradually increased, until one hundred and twenty drops be taken for a dose, twice a day. It is, also, in my opinion, the

2 When iron filings are dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and completely excluded from the air, a chloride is formed insoluble in spirit of wine. Davy's Researches, p. 180.

best chalybeate in dyspepsia. It is also recommended in dysury depending on spasmodic stricture of the urethra, in which case it is given in doses of five or six drops, repeated every ten or fifteen minutes, until nausea be induced. It is used externally as a styptic in cancerous and loose fungous sores. The usual dose is from x. to xxx. in a glass of water, but it may be gradually increased to cxx.