184      ON  PIL.  FERRI  CARBONATIS  AND  P.  FERRI  IODIDI. 
You  will  also  find  some  Pil.  Ferri  Iodidi  made  by  the  following 
formulas,  of  which  I  spoke  to  you  last  September : 
Take  of  Iodine,  eighty  grains. 
Reduced  Iron,  forty  grains. 
Water,  twenty-five  minims. 
Honey,  thirty  grains. 
Marshmallow,  in  fine  powder,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
grains. 
Rub  the  Iodine  in  a  mortar  to  a  fine  powder,  adding  first  the 
water,  then  the  honey,  and  afterwards  the  reduced  iron  in  portions 
and  triturate  until  the  iodine  is  entirely  converted  into  iodide. 
Add  the  marshmallow,  and,  having  formed  a  pill  mass,  divide 
into  ninety-six  pills.  Coat  them  with  tolu  as  directed  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia.  I  also  send  some  made  by  a  friend  (Dr.  Wm. 
B.  Little)  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  process,  made  with  half  the 
quantity  of  gum  and  equal  parts  of  marshmallow  and  liquorice 
root. 
Blancard's  pills,  when  cut,  have  a  light  brown  surface,  those 
of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  have  a  dark  brown,  almost  black, 
surface." 
The  Vallet's  mass,  at  this  date,  (six  months  since  it  was  made,) 
is  of  good  consistence  and  color,  no  tendency  to  crystallize  and 
be  gritty  is  noticed.  The  original  recipe  was  five  ounces  of  honey 
(Ph.  1840,)  in  1850  it  was  made  as  at  present.  Others  besides 
Mr.  Bedford  have  increased  the  proportion  of  sugar  to  avoid 
deliquescence.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  Pharmacopoeia  pro- 
portions are  best  calculated  to  preserve  the  carbonate  from  oxi- 
dation, but  the  liability  to  attract  moisture  in  damp  weather,  due 
to  the  honey,  is  an  inconvenience  seriously  interfering  with  their 
long  continued  use,  unless  kept  in  a  bottle  as  they  should  be. 
The  iodide  of  iron  pills,  sent  by  Mr.  B.,  are  of  good  consistence, 
and  appear  perfectly  protected  at  this  date.  We  have  some  of 
these  pills,  made  by  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  process  four  years 
ago,  that  are  equally  perfect,  although  they  have  not  been  kept 
sealed.  The  suggestion  of  Mr.  Bedford  has  reference  to  conve- 
nience of  dispensing,  and  to  the  consistence  of  the  mass,  which 
the  gum  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  probably  makes  a  little  too  elas- 
tic.   These  suggestions  do  not  alter  the  strength  or  medicinal 
