712 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§§ 914-916. 
very large doses, without causing disturbance to the health, that the 
statement must only be taken as applying to the more soluble iron 
compounds. The two preparations of iron which have any forensic 
importance are the perchloride and the sulphate. 
§ 914. Ferric Chloride (Fe 2 Cl 6 = 325).—Anhydrous ferric chloride 
will only be met with in the laboratory. As a product of passing dry 
chlorine over red-hob iron, it sublimes in brown scales, is very deliquescent, 
and hisses when thrown into water. There are two very definite 
hydrates—one with 6 atoms of water, forming large, red, deliquescent 
crystals ; and another with 12 of water, less deliquescent, and crystal¬ 
lising in orange stellate groups. 
The pharmaceutical preparations in common use are :— 
Strong Solution of Ferric Chloride (Liquor Ferri Perchloridi 
Fortis).— An orange-brown liquid of specific gravity 1-49, and containing 
20 grms. of Fe in 100 millilitres. 
Tincture of Ferric Chloride. —Strong solution of ferric chloride, 
250 millilitres; alcohol, 90 per cent., 250 millilitres; distilled water up to 
1000 millilitres. 
Solution of Perchloride of Iron (Liquor Ferri Perchloridi). —Simply 
250 volumes of the strong solution made up to 1000 by the addition 
of water. 
§ 915. Effects of Ferric Chloride on Animals. —A very elaborate 
series of researches on rabbits, dogs, and cats was undertaken some 
years ago by MM. Berenger-Ferraud and Porte 1 to elucidate the general 
symptoms and effects produced by ferric chloride under varying 
conditions. First, a series of experiments showed that, when ferric 
chloride solution was enclosed in gelatine capsules and given with the 
food of the animal, it produced either no symptoms or but trifling 
inconvenience, even when the dose exceeded 1 grm. per kilogrm. 
Anhydrous ferric chloride and the ferric chloride solution were directly 
injected into the stomach, yet, when food was present, death did not 
occur, and the effects soon subsided. In animals which were fasting, 
quantities of the solution equal to -5 grm. per kilogrm. and above 
caused death in from one hour to sixteen hours, the action being much 
accelerated by the addition of alcohol—as, for example, in the case of 
the tincture : the symptoms were mainly vomiting and diarrhoea, some¬ 
times the vomiting was absent. In a few cases the posterior extremities 
were paralysed, and the pupils dilated : the urine was scanty or quite 
suppressed ; death was preceded by convulsions. 
§ 916. Effects on Man. —Perchloride of iron in the form of tinc¬ 
ture has been popularly used in England, from its supposed abortive 
property, and is sold under the name of “ steel drops.” It has been 
1 “ Etude sur rempoisonnement par le perchlorure de fer,” par MM. Berenger- 
Ferraud et Porte, Annales d'Hygiene Publique, 1879 . 
