973 



IRON. 



IRON MANUFACTURE AND TRADE. 



871 



chloride ; the tincture of which, called tincture of sesquichloride of 

 iron, is extremely valuable as an emmenagogue ; it likewise is very 

 beneficial in checking meuorrhagia proceeding from relaxation of the 

 uterus. It checks hssmaturia from relaxation of the tissue of the 

 kidneys. In catarrh of the bladder it is very serviceable. In frequently 

 repeated small doses it relaxes spasmodic stricture of the urethra. 

 But the feeling of nausea and sinking which it causes, renders patients 

 averse to its repetition. It acts aa a potent astringent when applied 

 externally or to mucous membranes as an injection. 



Sulphate of iron can be given in small doses, in pills or otherwise. 

 Its powers are often much heightened by combination with sulphate of 

 quinia. In nervous debility and indigestion this form is valuable. 



The potassio-tartrats of iron has less unpleasantness of taste than 

 most of the other preparations of iron, and is therefore more accept- 

 able to children, to whom also the vinum ferri is much prescribed. 

 Both these are nearly superseded by the citrate or ammonio-citrate of 

 iron, which can be given in the form of lozenge or syrup. The latter 

 given in warm water or lemonade is relished by mos,t children. Still 

 the potassio-tartrate has many recommendations. 



Iodide of iron is a preparation of great value in strumous disorders. 

 The same may be said of the phosphate of iron, a preparation for- 

 merly in the ' London Pharmacopeia/ and now most unjustly excluded 

 from it. In the phosphatic diathesis of feeble subjects, with a tendency 

 to rickets, it is invaluable. The dose for children is a very few grains, 

 cautiously increased. The numerous preparations of iron recently 

 introduced by chemists have not been sufficiently tried to permit them 

 to be spoken of with certainty; but in many cases their utility is 

 obvious. Of these the chief are citrate of iron, potassio-citrate, Bodio- 

 citrate, zinco-citrate, magnesio-citrate, ferro-citrate, and citrate of 

 quinine and iron ; this last is of great service in tic douloureux. 



A better form is the pyro-phosphate, which is soluble in water, warm 

 or cold ; the form of this in pseudo-crystalline scales, is a pyro-phosphate 

 of iron and soda. This along with rhubarb is a most efficacious cure 

 for the headaches of most young females. 



The saccharated carbonate of iron has many advantages. It may 

 quite supersede the well-known Griffith's mixture. Hydrated proto- 

 sulphuret of iron is stated to be an antidote to poisoning by corrosive 

 sublimate, but to be of use it must be given within ten minutes after 

 the poison has been taken. White of egg is a better antidote. 



Chalybeate waters often furnish the best medium for administering 

 iron ; especially when the iron is associated with much free carbonic 

 acid. Where no free carbonic acid is present, and in some instances 

 even where it exists, the water of the springs should be received in and 

 drunk out of wanre water. This often prevents the spasm which is apt 

 to occur when very cold water i.s suddenly taken into the stomach. 



Besides being reputed an antidote to the poisonous salts of copper, 

 iron is asserted to prove an antidote to other violent poisons. 



Hydrate of peroxide of iron, called also hydmted peroxide of iron, is 

 considered a trustworthy antidote against arsenic, if administered 

 promptly, while the arsenic is yet in the stdmach, and not absorbed. 

 Pnissic acid may be decomposed or combined, go as to be rendered 

 innocuous, by giving promptly, first, solution of carbonate of potass, 

 followed by a very diluted solution of the proto-persulphate of iron ; 

 the object being to form a ferro-prussiate of potass in the stomach. 

 (See ' Lancet,' 5th October, 1844 ; or ' Pharmaceutical Journal,' vol. iv. 

 p. 373.) 



Phytioloffical Effecti and Therapeviic Employment of Iron. Iron exists 

 both in plants and many animals, as the mammiferae and birds, con- 

 stituting an essential part of then- fluids and solids ; but, incorporated 

 as it is thoroughly with them, it gives rise to none of those phenomena 

 which it occasions when taken into the stomach. Upon the living 

 tissues iron has a tonic influence; and as its preparations greatly 

 promote digestion, they excite the appetite and render more easy the 

 elaboration of the aliment. The vitality of the digestive organs being 

 exalted, they extract from the food more of the nutritious principles, 

 and thereby furnish a greater quantity fit to be assimilated. 



These beneficial effects are best seen when the medicine is given in 

 small and long-continued doses, or in the greatly diluted state in which 

 iron occurs in the mineral waters or chalybeate springs. On the other 

 hand, chalybeates occasion at times, especially if in large doses, pain of 

 the epigastre, nausea, foetid eructations, and great anxiety; conse- 

 quences referable to the immediate impression, a sort of constrictive 

 action, which the preparations of iron make or exercise when they 

 reach the stomach, upon its internal surface, and the nerves which are 

 distributed upon it. The unpleasant effects may generally be avoided 

 by giving it at first in very small doses, gradually increased, or by 

 diluting it with some vegetable substance of little activity. 



i given in large doses, when it reaches the intestines, produces in 



some persons obstinate constipation, accompanied with a sense of great 



lower belly ; in others it occasions colics and frequent alvine 



dejections; while with a third set of persons none of these effects 



follow its administration. 



During the use of iron the faeces invariably become blackened, which 

 is caused by the tannin of our food acting upon the iron. 



In respect to the secondary effects of iron, the amount of these 



depends upon the quantity absorbed, and the length of time it has 



,;iven. That it is absorbed, in most instances, and carried into 



the circulation, is proved both by the effects of it being felt over the 



whole system, and by being distinctly recognisable in the urine on the 

 addition of an infusion of galls. When used for some time, chalybeates 

 increase greatly the power of the heart ; the pulse becomes stronger 

 and harder effects most observable upon persons previously enfeebled 

 by disease. If persisted in, they cause increased arterial action, followed 

 by febrile commotion, sense of heat, and hsemorrhagic discharges from 

 different parts of the body. These phenomena show themselves most 

 speedily in persons of a plethoric habit and sanguine temperament ; 

 iron also rouses the absorbent organs when sluggish. 



The functions of nutrition and assimilation are greatly heightened 

 by the use of iron ; but if it be too long persevered in, diseases of over- 

 action ensue, as inflammations, haemorrhages, &c. These symptoms 

 indicate the necessity of discontinuing it. 



The preparations of iron are unquestionably efficacious in diseases 

 which proceed from a relaxation of the substance of the living tissues, 

 from an inactivity of the reparative or assimilative function, or in 

 case of weakness proceeding from deficient supply of nervous energy. 



Hence they are indicated iu anrcmia, in convalescence from debili- 

 tating fevers, and other tedious diseases, as well as after some of the 

 more acute phlegmasise, as pneumonia, the cough remaining after which, 

 if not occasioned by any organic change, is sooner removed by prepara- 

 tions of iron or bark than any other means. Chalybeates are likewise 

 given in defective menstruation from debility of the uterus, and some- 

 times in sterility. In chlorosis iron is almost our sheet-anchor, while 

 it is also very serviceable in some forms of dyspepsia, also in worms, 

 (in which the sulph.-ferri is given in large doses), in passive haemo- 

 rrhages, and it is prescribed empirically in many of the cachexiae, as 

 scrofula. 



Chalybeates are found useful in many nervous diseases, as hysteria : 

 the cough which is often present in these complaints may be effectually 

 removed by preparations of iron. The indurations, too, of the mammas 

 (apt to be considered of a cancerous nature), and of other glands in 

 hysterical females, are often dispersed by the use of iron. Some of 

 the forms of tic douloureux, not dependent upon organic causes, are 

 often cured by chalybeates. Iron has likewise been prescribed in the 

 intervals of the paroxysms of intermittents, particularly quartans. 

 The sulphate is given in the dose of 3i. in a pint of water, in which 

 circumstance it can only act beneficially,' like cinchona or bitter 

 tonics, iron being among minerals what bitter herbs are among 

 vegetable remedies. 



Chalybeates are contra-indicated in plethora and all inflammatory 

 diseases, as well as active haemorrhages, as also during pregnancy in 

 females of a sanguine temperament. 



IRON MANUFACTURE AND TRADE. The art of smelting 

 iron was practised in this country during the time of the Roman 

 occupation. The principal seats of the manufacture appear to have 

 been Sussex and the Forest of Dean, or Arden as it was then called. 

 It is known that iron-works existed in that part of Gloucestershire 

 in 1238 ; because there occurs among the patent rolls of Henry III. 

 of that date, one entitled ' De Forgeis levandis in foresta de Dean.' 

 Remains of ancient iron-furnaces have been noticed in Lancashire, 

 Staffordshire, and Yorkshire. The art of working in iron and steel 

 was much practised in this island before the Norman conquest. We 

 are told that not only was the army of Harold well supplied with 

 weapons of steel and with defensive armour, but that the horses 

 were covered with steel and iron armour, and that every officer of 

 rank maintained a smith, who constantly attended his ^master to the 



Fig. 1. Vertical Section of Blast Furnace. 



wars, and took charge of his arms and armour to keep them in proper 

 repair. 



There are three principal qualities into which this metal is com- 

 monly divided, namely, pig-iron, cast-iron, and malleable or bar-iron, 



