332     PREPARATIONS  OF  THE  U.  S.  PHARMACOPEIA,  1860. 
and  about  one-sixth  of  pure  quinia  ;  our  own  salt  contains  between 
a  seventh  and  an  eighth,  with  citrate  of  peroxide  only. 
Ferri  Lactas. — The  commercial  process  for  lactate  of  iron 
involves  the  use  of  old  cheese  and  sour  milk,  which  would  have 
to  have  been  put  in  the  officinal  list  if  that  process  had  been  ren- 
dered officinal.  The  committee  avoided  this  dilemma  by  placing 
lactic  acid  in  the  list,  and,  in  the  process  for  lactate  of  iron, 
directing  the  salt  to  be  made  from  this  acid  and  iron  filings. 
The  great  expense  of  the  pure  acid  of  course  renders  the  officinal 
process  ineligible,  as  the  salt  it  would  yield  would  cost  six  times 
the  price  of  the  commercial  salt,  and  be  but  little  better.  The 
description  of  the  officinal  salt  in  crystalline  crusts  or  grains 
very  rarely  applies  to  the  commercial  salt,  which  is  in  a  dusty 
powder,  more  or  less  greyish-white  in  color.  The  process  usually 
employed  is  that  in  which  the  lactic  acid  is  derived  from  sour 
whey,  or  this  mixed  with  glucose  and  chalk,  so  as  to  get  lactate 
of  lime,  from  which  the  acid  is  separated  by  sulphuric  acid,  used 
in  equivalent  proportions.  Obtained  in  this  way,  the  acid  may 
be  used  in  a  dilute  and  partially  purified  state  for  saturation 
with  iron  filings,  and  hence  the  economy  of  the  process. 
Ferri  Pyrophosphas. — This  formula  is  based  upon  that  proposed 
by  Dr.  E.  R.  Squibb,  (see  vol.  xxxii.  p.  37,  of  this  Journal,) 
and  is  a  good  one.  The  merit  of  this  preparation  is  not  only  its 
tastelessness  and  solubility,  but  it  is  stated  to  be  less  stimulating 
to  the  heart  than  other  preparations  of  iron.  The  quantity  of 
iron  is  liable  to  vary,  and  this  salt  and  its  color  varies  in  shade, 
with  want  of  care  in  its  preparation.  The  very  precise  directions 
of  Dr.  Squibb,  before  referred  to,  will  afford  all  the  information 
needed  to  the  inexperienced  operator. 
Ferri  Sulphas  Exsiccata  has,  very  properly,  been  reintroduced. 
Ferrum  Redactum,  the  new  name  for  iron  by  hydrogen,  is  better 
than  the  old  name  Pulvis  Ferri,  which  conveyed  no  correct  idea 
of  the  preparation,  applying  as  well  to  levigated  iron  as  to  re- 
duced iron.  On  the  other  hand,  the  hypercritic  may  assert  that 
all  ordinary  iron  is  made  by  reduction,  although  a  different  agent 
is  employed.  The  name  Ferrum  per  Hydrogene  would  probably 
be  less  exceptionable,  yet  usage  has  given  a  special  meaning  to 
