ON CHLORIDE OF IRON AND SODIUM, ETC. 
141 
above. Mix it with the sugar in a bottle, and form syrup without 
heat by shaking it at intervals. This syrup ought to measure 
twenty seven ounces, and yield seventeen grains of peroxide of 
iron to the ounce. One ounce of this syrup evaporated yielded a 
black residue, deliquescent in the air, from the solution of which, 
sesquioxide of iron was not thrown down by the caustic alkalies ; 
but the solution was changed to its original new color. 
Considering the great astringency of the perchloride, and the 
exceedingly unpleasant taste of almost all the soluble salts of iron, 
it may be fairly inferred that the double chloride of iron and 
sodium, possesses properties at least in point of taste, that may 
prove to be of some practical importance alike to the profession 
and to the people. The fact that iron is a powerful tonic, pre- 
supposes general debility to be the condition of the patient indica- 
ting its use, and in these cases the enfeebled condition of the 
stomaeh seems to require the mildest and least astringent chaly- 
beate, that it may be absorbed and produce its constitutional in- 
vigorative effect. 
Professor Wood (U. S. D. 9th edit. p. 999,) states that per- 
chloride of iron " is one of the most active and certain prepara- 
tions of iron, usually acceptable to the stomach, and much em- 
ployed for all the purposes to which the chalybeates are geneially 
applied and as perchloride of iron is so very styptic, it would 
seem to be almost impossible for it to be absorbed, and as chloride 
of sodium is daily taken into the stomach in the food, it may be 
possible that a chemico-vital action forms chloride of iron and 
sodium when perchloride of iron is given. 
Chloride of Iron and Ammonium. 
It is very well known that this compound is only a mixture as 
prepared according to the Pharmacopoeias. Prof. Pereira (Ele- 
ments of Materia Medica, &c.,ed. 1852, p. 740) states, " by evapo- 
rating the solution (of perchloride of iron) with a solution of 
hydrochlorate of ammonia, we obtain a mixture of these bodies. 
There is no reason to believe that any chemical combination takes 
place." Also at p. 440, are these words : " Yellow or brownish 
streaks or bands are frequently absorbed in the cakes of sal-am- 
moniac. These are ascribed by the manufacturers to the neglect 
