F1L

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weight of this preparation may be seen by referring to the Medicinal Dy-nameter ; five grains, for instance will be found to contain gr. j of perox-ide, which, it will be observed, are equivalent to nixiv of the TincfuraFerri Muriatis, and to TT^xxv o! the Liquor Ferri M^alini, or tof3j of theVinum Ferri. Solubility. It is very soluble in water, and the solutionremains for a great length of time without undergoing any change, ex-cept that of depositing tartrate of lime, which is an incidental impurity inthe supertartrate of potass. Incompatible Substances. All strongacids ; lime water ; hydri-sulphvret of potass ; astringent vegetables ? Thefixed alkalies and their carbonates decompose the solution very slowly,unless heated ; but ammonia and its sub-carbonate produce upon it noeffect whether it be hot or cold ; this fact, observes Mr. Phillips, willenable us to exhibit iron in solution with an alkali, without the occur-rence of any precipitate. Fokms of Exhibition. The perfect prepa-ration, from its tendency to deliquesce, cannot be well ordered in theform of powder ; that of solution is probably the most judicious. Med.Uses. It is supposed to add to its chalybeate virtues those of a diureticnature. Dose, grs. x to 3ss. See Form ■• 34, 53, 92. Dr. Batemauhas recommended a watery solution of it, as a chalybeate peculiarly suit-ed to children, from its tasteless quality.* ,

FILICIS RADIX. L.E.D.

(Aspidium Filix, Mas.)

Root of the Male Fern.

Qualities. This root is nearly inodorous; its taste slightly bitter,sweetish, sub-astringent, and mucilaginous ; as it contains no volatile in-gredient, it may be given in decoction, but on account of its astringency,it must not be conjoined with a chalybeate. Chemical Composition.According to M. Morin, the Male Fern root owes its anthelmintic pro-perty to a fatty substance, capable of being saponified ; of a nauseousodour quite like that of the root; of a very di«agreeable taste, heavierthan water, and distilling with water, and when burnt, giving a dense aro-matic smoke. The root, moreover, contains gallic and acetic acids; un-crystallizable sugar ; tannin ; starch ; a gelatinous matter insoluble in

* Besides the preparations of Iron mentioned by our author, there is another whichhas recently been introduced into practice, by Dr. ZollickofFer of Maryland, and this isthe Prussiaie of Iron, or Prussian Blue. Like the other forms of iron it acts as apowerful tonic, and as a remedy in intermitting and remitting fevers, Dr. Z. conceivesit to possess many advantages over Cinchona. These he states to be the following:"1. It is void of taste, and may therefore be much more readily exhibited than theCinchona Officinalis, which to some is extremely unpleasant. 2. It may be given in.every stage of the disease, while the administration of bark is confined to the apy-rexias. 3. The dose is much smaller, being from four to six grains twice or thrice intwenty-four hours; or at morning, noon and night; while bark, to be effectual, must begiven in much larger doses 4. It never disa^re s with the stomach, or creates nau-sea, even in the most irritable s<ate of this viscus ; while bark is tiot unfrequently re-jected. 5. In its effects as a remedy calculated to prevent the recurrence of futureparoxysms, it is more certain, prompt, and effectual, than the justly celebrated Cort.Peruvian. 6 and lastly, A patient treated with this article will recover from the influ*ence of intermitting and remitting fevers, in the generality of cases, in much less timethan is usual in those cases in which bark is employed." In using the Prussiate ofIron, Dr. Zollickhoffer directs that care should be taken to select that which is of avery dark blue colour, approaching to a black, having a shining coppery fracture, andMfh'ring firmly to the tongue. Eo=

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