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72 ON PREPARATIONS OF IRON. 
ART. XV.— NOTICE OF SEVERAL PREPARATIONS OF IRON. 
By M. Beral, Pharmaceutist. 
Experiments undertaken for the purpose of rendering more 
perfect the preparations of iron used in medicine, have led me 
to the discovery of several ferruginous products, not yet ex- 
amined, or but little known. I shall make known the more 
prominent properties of each of these products so as to com- 
plete what I have already published on ferruginous compounds 
in general, and the citrate of iron in particular. I take ad- 
vantage of this occasion to communicate the formulae of seve- 
ral medicines, of which the use is becoming extensive, and 
which have not yet been published in any work. 
Sesquicitrate of Iron. 
The citrate of the sesquioxide of iron is obtained under the 
form of transparent plates, of a beautiful garnish hue. This 
salt, remarkable in every respect, dissolves in water with 
great facility, forming a permanent solution with but little 
taste. This preparation forms the base of many pharmaceu- 
tical compounds, appropriated to the healing art, and will 
themselves afford the subject of a future essay. 
Citrate of protoxide of Iron. 
Citrate of the protoxide of iron is prepared by treating iron 
filings with citric acid, previously dissolved in distilled water. 
This salt is white and pulverulent, and but slightly soluble. 
It is rapidly colored by light, and by the action of moistair its 
composition is modified, the iron passing to a higher 
degree of oxidation. This citrate, like the other salts of iron, 
has a strongly marked chalybeate taste. 
Citrate of the Magnetic oxide of Iron. 
Combined with magnetic oxide of iron, citric acid 
furnished an uncrystallizable salt, of a green color, and sus- 
