LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
375 
With regard to what had been said about the desirability of union amongst all com¬ 
petent persons engaged in pharmacy, he agreed with those sentiments entirely. There 
might be difference of opinion as to the way in which this important end should be ac¬ 
complished, but he was satisfied that it was perfectly feasible. Mr. H. concluded by 
moving a vote of thanks to the President for his address. 
Mr. G. Ward, F.C.S., seconded the resolution. He said that the address of the Pre¬ 
sident was just of the kind which the Association required. It was a thoroughly practi¬ 
cal address to a body of practical men. He was glad that allusion had been made to 
the hard measure of criticism dealt out to the British Pharmacopoeia in many quarters. 
It could not be denied that the work was a most important step in the right direction, 
having substituted one authoritative code for three such, and having made the way for 
future reforms comparatively easy. With three committees acting in three distant 
places, a better result could hardly have been expected. Mr. W. congratulated the 
.society upon the good attendance that evening. 
The vote of thanks was passed by acclamation. 
The Secretary, Mr. E. Yewdall, read a paper upon “ Liquor Ferri Perchloridi B. P.” 
He commenced by alluding to the irregularity which had been found to exist in the 
strength of Tinctura Ferri Sesquichlor., P. L., in consequence, to a great extent, of the 
insolubility of much of the peroxide of iron of commerce.* With a view to correct this 
uncertainty, the new formula was introduced. The author alluded to the criticisms of 
various writers upon the subject, and said that he agreed with the statements that the 
B. P. process might give a liquor of a dark, almost black colour, depositing basic per¬ 
chloride when mixed with spirit of wine. But this condition was not a necessary one; it 
was contingent upon the temperature at which the evaporation of the solution was con¬ 
ducted after the N0 5 had been added. The B. P. did not define this temperature. If 
a low heat were used, the condition just described would occur. On the other hand, if 
the solution is quickly heated to 190° or 200° Fahr., violent action occurs, binoxide of 
nitrogen evolves, and the black turbid appearance of the solution is changed to a dark 
bright red. Although a flask is best adapted for effecting the solution of the iron wire, 
the second stage of the operation, in which N0 5 is heated with the solution, requires 
the employment of an evaporating dish, or accident may occur. 
He considered that more hydrochloric acid was desirable than was ordered by the 
B. P. Instead of 10 fl. oz., he used 11| fl. oz., dissolving the iron in a flask stopped by 
a cork, with a small exit tube. Pouring this solution into an evaporating-basin, it 
was rapidly heated to 190° or 200 Fahr., and then gently evaporated to 10 fl. oz. This 
solution answered in all respects to the tests given in the B. P. It had a specific 
gravity of 1-339, and one fluid drachm precipitated by NH 3 , gave 15-6 grains of 
FeoO ;j after washing, drying, and incinerating. The tincture made from this liquor is 
bright, free from any black colour, and does not deposit by keeping. 
Since a solution of perchloride of iron gradually decomposes by the influence of light 
into protochloride and free chlorine, it should be preserved in a dark place. 
The paper was illustrated by specimens, showing both successful and faulty prepara¬ 
tions. 
Mr. Abbott confirmed the statements of the author as to the possibility of preparing 
the solution satisfactorily, if the precautions detailed were adopted. He did not even 
consider that there was any necessity for increasing the quantity of H Cl. 
Mr. Atkinson was not prepared to admit the necessity for a new formula, as he had 
not found any difficulty in getting a peroxide of iron that was entirely soluble in II Cl. 
Mr. Reynolds quoted Dr. Attfield’s statement that the B. P. gave a product contain¬ 
ing protochloride, perchloride, and pernitrate of iron with free nitric acid. Such being 
the case, the composition of the medicine must be totally unconstant, and as uniformity 
of composition must be paramount to methods of preparation, he felt justified in attain¬ 
ing the strength of the B. P. preparation by the old method of dissolving the peroxide. 
He knew that some houses of great repute were doing the same. 
The President quoted the preface to the late London Pharmacopoeia to the effect 
that although certain methods of manufacture were directed for the guidance of those 
engaged in pharmacy, the College did not forbid the employment of other means of 
producing the same result. This showed that the end was more important than the 
* Pharm. Journ. N. s. vol. iv. p. 490. 
