10 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
Abridgement of Christison, " will be found, most probably, 
to produce the same effects on the animal system as the ni- 
trate of potassa." Such analogy should certainly deter us 
from the use of the extemporaneous preparation. Indeed, 
the author himself says above, in his first formula, the preci- 
pitate "must be carefully washed," indicating his own views 
of the necessity of removing the new alkaline salt, and exhi- 
biting a decided inconsistency between his formulae, which 
nothing but an accidental oversight could have caused.* The 
other objection to this formula is of less importance and has 
already been suggested in the first comment made upon the 
use of nitric acid for dissolving the iron. 
It is believed that no objection of moment can be made to 
the proposed formula, herein commended; indeed, the chief de- 
fects in those already reviewed, arise from the anxiety to 
employ the preparation in its recent state, which it has been 
the object of this notice to prove unimportant. That it did 
in one case at least deprive the sufferer of its benefits, and, 
consequently, of his life, I am fully persuaded; and seriously 
have I regretted having given implicit credence, without pro- 
per reflection, and a recurrence to principle, to the idea that 
only a freshly prepared oxide could be relied upon. 
The formula now offered is definite in its proportions, and 
if carefully observed, will furnish a result upon which reli- 
ance may be placed. It is based upon the equivalent propor- 
tionals of the materials, and is made to coincide as nearly as 
possible with the preparations of the United States Pharmaco- 
poeia, the officinal acids being employed. At my request it 
has been subjected to practice by Mr. Durand, who has 
* It may appear hypercritical to allude to the irritant properties of these 
nitrates, when so powerful an irritant as arsenic is to be counteracted, 
and if their presence was unavoidable, the comment might be attributed 
to an ultra disposition to find fault; but, as it has been shown that the 
properties of the antidote may be enjoyed unattended with accompanying 
irritation, these remarks are made with an honesty of purpose which, it is 
trusted, will be ample to disarm them of any apparent malice or discour- 
tesy to the author. 
