IRON SULPHATE 257 



3Jv. ; sheep and pigs, grs. xx. to 3J- \ dogs, grs. ii. to grs. 

 xv., repeated two or three times a day. 



IRON SULPHATE. Ferri Sulphas. Ferrous Sulphate. Green 

 Vitriol. Copperas. FeS0 4 .7H 2 0. 



Iron sulphate may be prepared by the interaction of 

 dilute sulphuric acid and iron. 



Ferrous sulphate occurs in bluish-green, oblique, rhombic 

 prisms, which, exposed to the air, gradually oxidise, becom- 

 ing opaque, and covered with a brown coating of the normal 

 and basic ferric sulphate ; an excess of sulphuric acid retards 

 this oxidation. It has an inky, styptic taste ; is insoluble in 

 rectified spirit, but soluble in less than two parts of cold 

 water ; exposed to a temperature of 212 F., until aqueous 

 vapour ceases to be given off, it parts with six-sevenths of 

 its water of crystallisation, and forms the exsiccated sulphate. 

 This dried sulphate is a white powder, slowly but entirely 

 soluble hi water. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Topically applied, it is astringent and 

 antiseptic. When swallowed it is a hsematinic, astrin- 

 gent, and, in large doses, irritant. It is twice as active as 

 the oxides and carbonates, but it is not so astringent, cor- 

 rosive, or irritant as the ferric chloride or nitrate. As an 

 antiseptic it is not so powerful as the ferric chloride, but has 

 about the same power as the sulphates of alumina and zinc. 

 Gohier administered 10 J ounces to a horse, 6 ounces to a 

 donkey, and 3 ounces to a six-months foal. All were 

 nauseated ; no appreciable increase of iron appeared in the 

 excretions from either bowels or kidneys. The three subjects 

 died the following day, and their intestines were found to be 

 gangrenous (Kaufmann). 



MEDICINAL USES. Iron sulphate is administered to all 

 veterinary patients in anaemia, and especially when it is con- 

 nected with dyspepsia. It improves the appetite, diminishes 

 exhausting discharges, and abates glandular enlargements. 

 It is specially beneficial in anaemia occurring in young 

 horses, cattle, or sheep, kept throughout the late autumn or 

 winter on grass that has lost its nutritive value, or in young 

 stock that have been reduced by restriction to indigestible, 



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