OBSERVATIONS UPON BLAUD's PILLS. 
61 
The following is the formula, which is of convenient exe- 
cution: — 
Pills of carbonate of iron and pot ass a. 
— Pure crystallized sulphate of iron, 
Crystallized bicarbonate of potassa, «a 3iv. 
Powdered gum arabic, 3i. 
Powdered marsh mallows, 3ss. 
M. — Divide into 96 pills. 
The two salts are triturated together in an iron mortar. 
They at first are rendered slightly moist, but soon after be- 
come dry. If the gum arabic be then added, the mixture is 
liquefied, which effect is due to the attraction of the gum 
arabic for the water of crystallization of the two salts, it forms 
a liquid solution, in whicb the salts are held. The marsh 
mallows produces the same result, but in a less marked man- 
ner; its addition is with the design of giving greater consist- 
ence to the mass. In this case, it is not subject to the same 
objection as in the former, where the carbonate of potassa de- 
composes the altheine of the marsh mallows. Here no such 
effect ensues, for no ammoniacal odor is disengaged. The mass 
becomes homogeneous and cohesive, preserving its softness a 
sufficient length of time for its division into 96 pills, and 
the dessiccation of the undivided mass, moreover, can be pre- 
vented by covering it with a cup, the interior of which has 
been moistened. These pills contain a slight excess of bi- 
carbonate of potassa, (about half a grain per pill,) which con- 
stitutes with a corresponding proportion of carbonate of iron, 
a double salt soluble in water. The remainder is composed 
as in Blaud's pills, of subcarbonate, or hydrate of iron, and 
sulphate of potassa. 
U Experience. 
