482  Elixirs  of  Quinine,  Simple  and  Compound.     { ocT^i^ss*'^™* 
trated  and  further  dried  by  means  of  heat^  perfectly  clear  and  readily 
detachable  scales  are  foraied. 
By  uniting  the  constituents  so  that  the  expression  3(FeCi)(.NaPy)2- 
(QuH)Py  results  an  apple-green  solution  is  produced,  which  on  con- 
densation yields  a  similarly  colored,  scaled  residue,  intermingled  by 
distinct  groups  of  crystals.  This  product  shows  that  the  compound  is 
not  homogeneous,  but  that  it  is  probably  a  mixture  of  the  preceding 
salt  and  sodium  hypophosphite.  Further  addition  of  sodium  hypo- 
phosphite  causes  no  disturbance  or  other  visible  effect. 
Although  the  compound,  having  three  hypophosphorous  acid  radi- 
cles is  not  a  distinct  salt,  but  a  mixture,  the  writer  gives  it  the  prefer- 
ence over  the  other  combination  for  use  in  elixirs.  This  is  simply  on 
account  of  the  greater  proportion  of  the  medicinally  desirable  hypo- 
phosphites. 
When  employing  a  commercial  article  of  ferric  citrate  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  elixirs  especial  care  must  be  exercised  not  to  use  the  so-called 
soluble  kind,  as  this  is  merely  the  ammonio-citrate.  Further  care 
should  also  be  had  not  to  select  a  ruby  tinted  kind  appearing  in  flat 
scales  having  an  equilateral  tendency.  This  is  also  a  hydro-citrate, 
containing  alkali,  and  hence  of  indefinite  composition.  The  normal 
ferric  citrate  has  a  garnet  tint  and  occurs  in  curved  oblong  scales ;  it 
is  the  only  proper  form  to  employ. 
Stiychnine  readily  combines  with  solutions  of  tlie  double  salts  of 
the  ferric  citro-hypophosphites.  And  as  all  these  solutions  perma- 
nently retain  their  fine  apple-green  tints,  this  fact  together  with  the 
foregoing  conclusions  has  led  to  the  following  formula  for  an  elixir  of 
iron,  quinine  and  strychnine.  Each  fluidrachm  of  this  elixir  repre- 
sents about  two  grains  of  ferric  citrate,  one  grain  of  quinium  sulphate 
and  one-sixty-fourth  of  a  grain  of  strychnine : 
Ferric  citrate   261  grains. 
Q,iiiniuni  sulj^bate   140  " 
Sodium  Liypoi^hospliite   68  " 
Calcium  "   ,   28  " 
"      carbonate,  precipitated   60  '* 
Strychnine,  powdered   2  " 
Oil  of  anise   1  minim. 
"     caraway   2  minims. 
"     Ceylon  cinnamon   2 
Sugar,  granulated   6  troyounces. 
Alcohol  
Water  of  each  sufficient  to  make     1  pint. 
