12. Liquor ferri acetatis, solution of ferric acetate.
13. The scale preparations of iron, so called because they are dried to form scales, are three in number, the base of all being ferric hydrate:
(a) Ferrum tartaratum, dark red scales, soluble in water.
(b) Ferri et quininae citratis, greenish yellow scales soluble in water.
(c) Ferri et ammonii citratis, red scales soluble in water, from which is prepared Vinum ferri citratis (ferri et ammonii citratis 1 gr., orange wine 1 fl. dr.).
Substances containing tannic or gallic acid turn black when compounded with a ferric salt, so it cannot be used in combination with vegetable astringents except with the infusion of quassia or calumba. Iron may, however, be prescribed in combination with digitalis by the addition of dilute phosphoric acid. Alkalis and their carbonates, lime water, carbonate of calcium, magnesia and its carbonate give green precipitates with ferrous and brown with ferric salts.
Unofficial preparations of iron are numberless, and some of them are very useful. Ferri hydroxidum (U.S.P.), the hydrated oxide of iron, made by precipitating ferric sulphate with ammonia, is used solely as an antidote in arsenical poisoning. The Syrupus ferri phosphatis Co. is well known as “Parrish’s” syrup or chemical food, and the Pilulae ferri phosphatis cum quinina et strychnina, known as Easton’s pills, form a solid equivalent to Easton’s syrup.
There are numerous organic preparations of iron. Ferratin is a reddish brown substance which claims to be identical with the iron substance found in pig’s liver. Carniferrin is another tasteless powder containing iron in combination with the phosphocarnic acid of muscle preparations, and contains 35% of iron. Ferratogen is prepared from ferric nuclein. Triferrin is a paranucleinate of iron, and contains 22% of iron and 2½% of organically combined phosphorus, prepared from the casein of cow’s milk. Haemoglobin is extracted from the blood of an ox and may be administered in bolus form. Dieterich’s solution of peptonated iron contains about 2 gr. of iron per oz. Vachetta has used the albuminate of iron with striking success in grave cases of anaemia. Succinate of iron has been prepared by Hausmann. Haematogen, introduced by Hommel, claims to contain the albuminous constituents of the blood serum and all the blood salts as well as pure haemoglobin. Sicco, the name given to dry haematogen, is a tasteless powder. Haemalbumen, introduced by Dahmen, is soluble in warm water.
Therapeutics.