FERRATED  TINCTURE  OF  BARK. 
147 
measure  four  pints,  agitate  occasionally  until  dissolved,  and 
strain  if  necessary. 
It  would  be  better  in  the  writer's  opinion,  if  the  strength  of 
this  syrup  was  increased  to  one  ounce  of  the  root  to  the  pint, 
instead  of  half  an  ounce  as  at  present. 
The  syrup  prepared  by  this  mode  presents  a  lighter  color 
than  when  made  in  the  usual  way,  is  perfectly  clear  and  bright, 
entirely  free  from  alcohol,  and  although  possessing  the  peculiar 
odor  of  the  root,  is  very  pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  it  is  believed 
will  keep  as  well  as  simple  syrup. — Journal  and  Trans,  of  the 
Maryland  Col  of  Phar.,  Dec.  1858. 
ON  FERRATED  TINCTURE  OF  BARK. 
By  William  S.  Thompson. 
In  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  third  series,  vol.  1st, 
p.  402,  Mr.  Samuel  Simes  of  Philadelphia  gives  a  formula  for 
this  preparation,  in  which  the  tannic  acid  is  removed  from  the 
compound  tincture  of  cinchona,  by  digesting  it  with  hydrated 
peroxide  of  iron,  dried  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  130° 
Fahrenheit ;  which  is  then  filtered  and  16  grains  of  Ammonio 
citrate  of  iron,  is  dissolved  in  each  fluid  ounce  of  the  filtrate. 
Not  having  succeeded  in  making  a  perfectly  satisfactory  pre- 
paration, according  to  the  formula  of  Mr.  Simes,  I  have  been 
led  to  devise  a  plan,  by  which  ammonio  citrate  of  iron  can  be 
dissolved  in  the  compound  tincture  without  disturbing  the  chem- 
ical relations  of  the  tannic  acid  and  the  alkaloids,  as  they  exist 
naturally  in  the  bark. 
Availing  myself  of  the  fact,  that  a  protosalt  of  iron  is  not 
precipitated  by  tannic  acid,  either  in  a  free  or  combined  state, 
I  first  prepare  protocitrate  of  iron,  which  is  converted  into  the 
ammonio  citrate,  protected  by  the  addition  of  sugar,  evaporated 
to  about  the  consistence  of  syrup,  and  then  poured  into  com- 
pound tincture  of  bark,  made  a  little  stronger  than  by  the  offi- 
cinal direction.  The  resulting  preparation  is  a  clear  tincture 
of  dark  brown  color,  possessing  all  the  aromatic  properties  of 
the  compound  tincture,  with  but  little  chalybeate  taste. 
The  following  is  the  formula  I  propose  :  first  take  the  dry 
