214 
SYRUP  OF  PYROPHOSPHATE  OF  IRON. 
Saccharized  Hydrate  of  Magnesia. — A  preparation  under  this 
name  was  introduced  by  Mr.  White,  of  Cork,  who  describes  it  as 
consisting  of  "  pure  hydrate  of  magnesia,  uncombined  with  any  acid, 
and  in  the  finest  gelatinous  state,"  sweetened  with  sugar  and 
flavored  with  an  aromatic.  Each  ounce  contains  a  quantity  of 
magnesia  equivalent  to  20  grains  of  the  carbonate.  This  is  a  con- 
venient form  in  which  to  administer  magnesia,  especially  to 
children,  as  it  is  not  at  all  disagreeable,  and  the  magnesia  being 
in  suspension  there  is  no  sediment. — Pharm.  Journ.,  Oct.  1852. 
This  preparation  can  be  made  by  dissolving  two  ounces  (av.)  of 
sulphate  of  magnesia  in  half  a  pint  of  water,  and  precipitating  the 
solution  with  solution  of  caustic  soda,  washing  the  gelatinous  hy- 
drate of  magnesia  with  boiled  water  by  decantation,  and  finally 
introducing  it  into  a  pint  bottle  with  half  a  pint  of  simple  or  ginger 
syrup,  and  sufficient  water  to  make  the  whole  measure  a  pint. 
W.  P.,  Jr. 
SYRUP  OF  PYROPHOSPHATE  OF  IRON. 
By  E.  Soubeiran. 
Pyrophosphate  of  iron  and  soda  has  been  introduced  into 
therapeutics,  as  having  the  particular  advantage  of  being  sup- 
ported by  many  patients  whose  stomachs  are  offended  with  other 
preparations  of  iron.  I  have  seen  two  patients  in  this  condition. 
A  solution  of  pyrophosphate,  according  to  the  following  formula 
was  prescribed. 
Take  of  dry  Ter-sulphate  of  iron,       -      -    6  grms.  (giss.) 
Crystallized  pyrophosphate  of  soda,  55  grms.  (^xiv.) 
Water,  q.  s.  to  make  a  litre  of  solution        (Qij  ^ij.) 
But  this  liquid  having  a  disagreeable  taste,  I  have  prepared  the 
following  syrup,  which  is  taken  without  difficulty  by  women  and 
children. 
I  will  first  state  that  pyrophosphate  of  soda  is  prepared  by 
drying  the  ordinary  rhombic  phosphate,  fusing  it  at  a  red  heat, 
dissolving  the  mass  in  boiling  water,  filtering  and  crystallizing. 
A  salt  having  the  formula,  2Na  O  +  PO5  +  10Aq.  is  obtained. 
It  contains  40  per  cent,  of  water  of  crystallization,  and  is  known 
by  its  affording  a  white  precipitate  with  nitrate  of  silver  instead 
of  yellow  as  the  ordinary  phosphate. 
