306 
ON  HYDRATED  SESQUI-OXIDE  OF  IRON. 
Pour  the  solution  of  iron  into  a  half  gallon  jar,  add  two  pints 
of  water,  and  then  add  the  ammonia,  stirring  constantly  until 
in  slight  excess.  This  is  known  when,  after  displacing  the  air  in 
the  jar  by  blowing,  it  continues  to  smell  slightly  of  ammonia. 
The  contents  of  the  jar  are  then  thrown  on  a  piece  of  strong  mus- 
lin, previously  well  moistened,  and  the  liquid,  holding  in  solution 
sulphate  of  ammonia,  expressed  from  it  as  quickly  as  possible, 
until  the  oxide  remains  in  the  cloth  of  a  pasty  consistence.  The 
cloth  is  then  opened  on  a  dish,  water  added  and  incorporated  with 
the  oxide  by  means  of  a  spatula,  and  then  again  expressed.  If  the 
demand  is  urgent,  the  oxide  may  be  sent  without  further  washing, 
if  not  urgent,  the  washing  may  be  repeated  twice  more.  It  is 
then  quickly  removed  by  a  spatula  from  the  cloth  to  a  quart  mor- 
tar, and  water  mixed  with  it  by  trituration,  until  it  measures  a 
pint,  when  it  should  be  poured  into  a  wide-mouthed  bottle,  corked, 
and  the  following  label  attached,  viz: 
HYDRATED  SESQUI-OXIDE  OF  IRON. 
(Fcrri  Oxidum  Hydratum  U.  S.  Pharm.) 
Antidote  to  Arsenic. 
This  preparation  consists  of  Hydraied  Sesqui-oxide  of  Iron  and 
water,  in  such  proportion  that  each  table  spoonful  contains  fAirty 
erains  of  the  dry  oxide;  and  is  intended  to  neutralize  the  poison- 
ous effect  of  Arsenious  acid,  or  common  while  arsenic,  when  taken 
into  the  stomach.  It  is  well  to  precede  the  administration  of  this 
antidote  by  an  active  emetic,  of  ipecacuanha  or  of  mustard,  so 
that  any  undissolved  arsenic  maybe  thus  mechanically  removed, 
if  possible.  If,  however,  this  has  not  been  done  before  obtaining 
the  antidote,  no  time  should  be  lost  in  giving  it,  The  patient 
should  take  a  table  spoonful  for  a  dose  every  five  or  ten  minutes, 
but  if  vomiting  should  intervene,  let  a  dose  be  given  immediately 
after  each  attack,  unless  otherwise  directed  by  the  physician  in 
attendance. 
When  the  poisoning  has  been  caused  by  arsenite  of  potassa, 
(Fowler's  Mineral  Solution,)  soda,  or  ammonia,  or  by  the  salts  of 
arsenic  acid,  after  giving  the  first  dose  add  six  table  spoonfuls 
of  vinegar  to  the  contents  of  ihe  bottle,  and  shake  it  a  few  mi- 
nutes, until  the  acidity  is  neutralized,  and  then  give  it  as  above, 
When  the  oxide  is  intended  for  other  ferruginous  preparations, 
as,  for  instance,  citrate  of  iron,  it  should  be  washed  by  displace- 
ment on  a  cloth  filter,  till  the  washings  cease  to  precipitate  chlo- 
ride of  barium.  The  small  amount  of  sulphate  of  ammonia  remain- 
ing in  the  oxide,  when  prepared  hurriedly  as  above,  is  of  no  ac- 
count in  a  case  of  poisoning. 
The  detail  in  the  above  label  is  not  objectionable,  as  it  will  be 
