THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
MARCH,  1885, 
TINCTURE  OF  FERRIC  CHLORIDE. 
By  Joseph  W.  England,  Ph.G. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting^  February  17,  1884. 
In  the  ebb  and  flow  of  pharmaceutic  progress,  it  is  interesting  and 
instructive  to  note  the  strange  and  passing  changes  in  its  history ;  the 
rise  and  fall  of  its  many  so-called  infallible  agencies,  without  whose 
supposed  aid  human  effort  to  combat  disease  was  thought  fruitless ;  but 
time's  crucial  test  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest  has  left  but  few,  com- 
paratively, of  the  many  brought  forth  from  nature's  hiding-places,  and 
these  few  have,  through  their  inherent  worth  and  true  usefulness  in 
certain  morbid  physical  conditions,  not  only  retained  their  original 
hold  upon  popular  favor,  but  despite  the  introduction  of  new  fancies 
with  asserted,  similar  properties,  advanced  still  higher  in  popular  pro- 
fessional opinion  and  general  application.  Enrolled  among  these  few 
there  is  one,  which  we  will  consider,  that  may  be  fairly  and  rightly 
classed  within  its  ranks  as  a  fit  representative;  for  without  question  its 
useful,  characteristic  qualities  have  been  so  long  recognized,  that  no 
studied  words  are  needed  to  sound  its  praise ;  and  tliat  one  is  Tinctura 
Ferri  Chloridi. 
Upon  entering  this  frequently  trodden  path  of  pharmaceutical  litera- 
ture, the  writer  is  fully  aware  of  the  many  able  investigations  which 
have  preceded  his  effort ;  but  as  accuracy  in  the  statement  of  fact,  irre- 
spective of  source,  is  the  main  element  in  the  upbuilding  of  scientific 
knowledge,  any  statement  or  suggestion  which  promotes  that  end, 
enhances  the  real  intrinsic  value  of  the  truth  already  known  and  paves 
the  way  to  more  profitable  exertions  in  the  future.  With  an  earnest 
desire  to  seek  and  grasp  the  real,  underlying  features  of  the  subject 
under  consideration,  and  fully  appreciating  the  high  value  of  previous 
works  in  this  direction,  the  subject  must  necessarily  partake,  partially 
at  least,  of  the  nature  of  a  review  of  past  and  present  methods,  with  an 
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