The next ore is the magnet, the amorphous oxidu-lated iron of Hauy, iv. 13. It would be endless to transcribe the idle stories recorded of the efficacy of this form of iron. When held in the hand it is said to accelerate delivery; and bound on the body, after being moistened with woman's milk, even Hippocrates tells us that it obviates sterility. Among the graver and more modern authors, whose credulity on this subject is conspicuous, we may mention, as an apology for adding a word on the subject, Baldinger in his Collection of Dissertations; Andry and Thouret, in the Memoirs of the Royal Society of Medicine at Paris.

Another ore is the haematites, hematite oxidated iron, Hauy, iv. 105; red haematites of Kirwan. It was supposed to cure haemorrhages, when taken internally, held in the hand, or placed under the axilla.

The rubrica Fabrilis, or red chalk, has been also employed; it is the red oxidated iron, Hauy, iv. 106; but even the collectors of wonders speak of it only as a good astringent. The last ore is the AEtites, the eagle stone, a variety of the rusty oxidated iron, Hauy, iv. 107, called geodic. A geode is a round body a cavity within, usually full of water or earth. This ore also takes away labour pains and prevents abortion!!.

The preparations in general use are the following: Limaturae ferri.-filings of iron, called also due-of all the preparations, this alone is said to possess all the virtues of iron. The rust is not so powerful an absorbent of acid in the primae viae, nor does it yield so large a share of the gas, separated by the action of acids on pure iron, which some authors have supposed to be useful. If pure iron be reduced into fine filings, it is the least offensive to the taste, and the most extensively advantageous.

A preparation between this, and the rust of iron, which follows, is the black oxide found in scales round a smith's anvil. This was the form recommended by Dr. Black, and on the whole is the most useful. Iron wire, as made of the purest iron, is often preferred; but the hydrogen gas separated from the metal, when not oxidized, often produces inconvenience, so that the scales are preferable.

Ferri rubigo.-the rust of iron. Moisten clean filings of iron with water, and sprinkle them over with a little powdered sal ammoniac; when the whole is dried, powder and pass it through a fine searse. The dose is the same as that of pure filings. The college of physicians of London order one pound of iron filings to be exposed to the air, often moistened with water until they are corroded into rust; then pounded in an iron mortar, and the very fine powder to be washed off with distilled water. The remainder is easily separated by-washing, and must undergo the same process: the prepared powder must be dried for use. Pharm. Londin. 1788. In hypochondriac and epileptic complaints, in worm cases, and in weak relaxed habits, it has proved useful. The Dublin college prepare it from iron wire, as the purer form of the metal.

The following electuary is not an inelegant form of administration. conserv. absinthii maritimi, i.

rubiginis ferri, ss. cons. ari. 3 ij. corticis aurant, q. s, During the continuance of taking this medicine the body should be kept open by some gentle aperient medicine.

Flores martiales.-martial flowers; formerly ens veneris, now ferrum ammoniacale, are prepared by mixing of iron filings, one pound, with sal ammoniac, two pounds. Sublime them, and what remains mix, by rubbing together with the sublimated matter; and again sublime. Pharm. Lond. 1788.

The success of this process depends chiefly upon the fire's being hastily raised, that the sal ammoniac may not sublime before the heat is become strong enough to enable it to carry up a portion of the iron; hence earthen or iron vessels will be most proper for the purpose. The most convenient vessel is an iron pot, to which may be luted an inverted earthen jar, with a small hole in its bottom to allow the elastic vapours which arise during the operation to pass off.

When these flowers are impure, they are of a dull and pale yellow colour; but they may be purified by sublimation.

The Edinburgh college directs this medicine to be prepared by mixing equal weights of the red oxide and muriat of ammonia. This mixture is sublimed. In this preparation there is only a single decomposition; and the muriat of ammonia is decomposed by the metal, which only takes place in high ternperatures. Some unchanged muriat of ammonia comes over, so that the sublimate must be carefully mixed after the operation. In both processes the proportion of iron is too great. It is .only required to be 1/16 of the muriat. A tincture is prepared from these flowers, by digesting four ounces of ammoniacal iron in a pint of proof spirit. - The dose is from gr. vi. to Э i. The flores martiales are considered as deobstruent and corroborant; and if given in pills must be combined with the fetid gums. They may be substituted for all the other preparations of iron; but are by no means particularly powerful.

From these flowers, dissolved in warm water and precipitated with the aq. kali, is produced the Mars dia-fthoreticus, and by Zwelfer, sulphur vitrio/i anodynum martiale; dissolved in sp. vini rectificatus, they form the sedativum archaei.

4. Vinum chalybeatum. Vinum ferri.- Take four ounces of the filings of iron; of cinnamon and mace, of each half an ounce; and of Rhenish wine, four pints. Macerate without heat for a month; then strain off the wine for use. The college of London orders four ounces of the filings of iron to be digested for a month in four pints of Spanish white wine, often shaking the vessel, and then strained. Phar. Lond. 1788. The Dublin college substitutes, for the filings, iron wire, and for Spanish white wine, Rhenish wine. The strength of the preparations arc unequal, and a better, as well as a more certain medicine is a solution of tartarized iron. : d. iron.