ON VALERIANATE OF IRON. 
131 
m bottles of convenient size for nse, so that after use the bottle may not be 
left partially filled, thereby, perhaps, exposing it for some time to the action 
of the air contained in the bottle. 
That part of the process for the production of the syrup, which occupies 
the most time, is washing and draining the precipitated phosphate of iron ; it 
is therefore desirable to do this as seldom as possible,—consistent, that is, with 
the final production of the compound in the state it is intended. If, there¬ 
fore, it is known that the preparation, when made, will have to be kept long, 
it would be preferable to preserve it in the state of liquor, making from 
it the syrup in small quantity or in such quantity that will last but a short 
time, adding the sugar in powder in the cold, and allowing it to dissolve, 
when the syrup will be complete, and far superior in colour to syrup kept for 
three months, even if the liquor from which it has been made has been pre¬ 
served for many months. 
40, Aldersgate Street, London. 
Mr. Stoddart thought that this preparation was in its very nature an anomaly—in 
fact, a compound contrary to all laws of nature. The action of phosphoric acid and 
other acids upon solution of sugar, when more or less heated, was known, and yet we 
were employing such a mixture in a case where stability was essential. 
Mr. Heathfield referred the change of colour to the presence of traces of nitric acid t 
in the phosphoric acid, due to its mode of preparation by the plan formerly in the 
Pharmacopoeia. When the syrupy phosphoric acid prepared by the combustion of 
phosphorus was used, the syrup being dense and solution effected in the cold, he be¬ 
lieved that change would very seldom occur. 
Mr. Baldock attributed great importance to the preparation of the precipitated phos¬ 
phate of iron, which should be dense when its washing was more readily effected. He 
advised that the sulphate of iron and phosphate of soda should be fused together in their 
w'ater of crystallization, when this dense precipitate would be obtained, and might be 
dissolved in syrupy phosphoric acid, and mixed with the cold solution of sugar. 
Mr. Giles acknowledged the valuable remarks of the last two speakers. He also 
pointed out that the experiments of the author upon presumed “ non-actinic ” bottles of 
blue glass were not conclusive, since such glass had not the qualities assumed. 
Mr. Kimmington corroborated Mr. Heathfield’s statement as to the presence of nitric 
acid in commercial phosphoric acid. He was in the habit of removing this by heating 
it with starch or sugar. 
Mr. Eeynolds remarked upon the irregularity of the decomposition complained of, as 
supporting Mr. Heathfield’s view that some impurity, variable in its amount, was the 
cause. He differed from some previous speakers as to a dense syrup being more stable, 
and had found, on the other hand, that the more dense syrups threw down the white in¬ 
soluble precipitate sooner than weaker ones. He suggested that this syrup might pro¬ 
perly be coloured by cochineal, as was Parrish’s chemical food. 
Mr. Deane also favoured the use of a weak syrup. 
ON VALEKIANATE OE IKON. 
BY FRANCIS SUTTON, F.C.S., NORWICH. 
More than two years have passed since I accepted the subject of Yaleria- 
nates for investigation, but owing to pressure of other business matters I 
have been until now unable to present any report thereon. That which I 
now have the honour to present to the Conference is not nearly so complete 
as I could wish. 
With respect to valerianate of iron, the question proposed was— 
K 2 
