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ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

It is one of the most useful and efficacious ferruginous preparations, and whichis owing to its ready solubility, by which it is easily digested and absorbed. Itsconstitutional effects are analogous to those of the ferruginous Compounds ingeneral, and which have been already described. Its tonic and stimulant Opera-tion is promoted by the myrrh: the excess of alkaline carbonate must not be for-gotten in estimating the sources of activity of this medicine.

It is admissible in most of the cases in which ferruginous remedies are indi-cated; but it is especially serviceable in anEemia, chlorosis, atonic amenorrhosa,and hysterical affections. It is also employed with benefit in the hectic fever ofphthisis and chronic mucous catarrhs. Jt is contra-indicated in inflammatoryconditions of the gastro-intestinal membrane.

The dose of it is one or two fluid ounces three or four times a-day. Of courseacids and acidulous salts, as well as all vegetable astringents which contain gallicor tannic acid, are incompatible with it.

t. PILULJ FERRI COMPOSITjE, L. D. (U. S.) Piltda Ferri Carbonatis, E.;Pilulce Ferri cum Myrr/id) Compound Pills of Iran; Pills of Carbonate of hon.(Myrrh, powdered, 3ij-; Carbonate of Soda; Sulphate of iron; Treacle, of each,3j. Rub the myrrh with the carbonate of soda; then having added the sulphateof iron.rub them again; afterwards beat the whole in a vessel previously warmed,until incorporated, L. (U. S.)—The Dublin College Orders, a drachm of Brown Sugarinstead of Treacle.—The Edinburgh College Orders, of Saceharine Carbonate ofIron, four parts; Conserve of Red Roses, one part. Beat them into a propermass, to be divided into five-grain pills.)—Prepared according to the Londonand Dublin Colleges these pills are analogous in eomposition, effects, and uses,to the preceding preparation. Double decomposition takes place between thetwo salts employed, and the products are sulphate of soda and carbonate of iron.The carbonate of soda is preferred to the carbonate of potash, on account of thedeliquescence of the latter. These pills, like the mixture, should only be madewhen required for use. The effects and uses of these pills are similar to thoseof the Mistura Ferri composita. —Dose, from grs. x. to grs. xx.

3. SUPERCARBONATED CHALYBEATES.—Carbonate s f the protoxide of iron dis-solves in water by the aid of carbonic acid. The Carbonated ChalybealeMineralWaters (see p. 248) are Solutions of this kind.

Artificial Solutions of the carbonated chalybeates are prepared in various ways.A convenient extemporaneous Solution is obtained by mix in g intimately sulphateof iron and bicarbonate of soda (sodce sesqnicarbonas, L.,) and dissolving themin a tumblerful of carbonic acid water (bottled soda water.) One hundred andthirty-nine grains of crystallized sulphate of iron require eighty-three grains ofsodcB sesqnicarbonas, L. to yield fifty-eight grains of carbonate of iron. It isadvisable, however, to employ an excess of the sesquicarbonate of soda. If 10grs. of sulphate of iron, and 10 grs. of the sesquicarbonate of soda L. be used,we shall obtain a Solution of about 4 grs. of carbonate of iron, 2i grs. of sulphateof soda, and 5 grs. of sesquicarbonate of soda. The Solution should be taken ina State of effervescence.

Another mode of preparing a Solution of carbonate of iron is to add bicarbonateof soda to a Solution of sulphate of iron acidulated by some acid, as sulphuric,tartaric, or citric acid.