REPORT ON NEW FERRUGINOUS PILLS. 
247 
by Menzer, who, associating the sulphate of iron and bicar- 
bonate of soda, each separately with sugar, mixes the two 
salts at the moment of exhibition, and thus prevents ulterior 
oxidation. This method appears to us truly valuable, only 
that it does not unite the agreeable with the useful; it does 
not disguise from the patient the disagreeable impression pro- 
duced by the acerb taste of the salt of iron. 
The first idea of preventing the oxygenation of carbonate 
of iron, and affording a medicine constant in its effects, is to 
be attributed to Dr. Becker. It has been carried out in prac- 
tice, by M. Klauer, pharmacien of Mulhausen. He made 
use of sugar as a preservative from oxidation. M. Klauer 
rapidly prepares the carbonate of iron by double decomposi- 
tion, taking care not to employ aerated water, both for the 
solution of the salt and to wash it; he mixes the humid carbo- 
nate with the sugar and evaporates to dryness: this was a 
point gained, but the end was not yet attained. The ferrugi- 
nous sugar of M. Klauer, had a blackish green color, which 
too plainly evinces the effects of oxidation; this, however, 
does not attain its utmost limit; the ochreous color of the iso- 
lated peroxide is never perceived. What was wanting to M. 
Klauer, has been obtained by M. Vallet. As had been done 
by M. Klauer, M. Vallet employs sulphate of iron, prepared 
according to the method of Bonsdorff, which affords a salt 
of a bluish tint, entirely free from the peroxide. Like M. 
Klauer, he also has recourse to a sugary substance to prevent 
oxidation, but he substitutes honey for sugar, and we shall 
now see what advantages result in the quality of the pro- 
duct. 
M. Vallet dissolves the sulphate of iron and carbonate of 
soda in a solution of sugar, and washes the precipitate with 
the same, in a linen rag impregnated with syrup; he then 
drains the carbonate of iron obtained, and mixes it with the 
honey, evaporating, by means of a salt water bath, to the 
pillular consistence. Thus, in the operation, the preservative 
sugary substance is always in contact with the ferruginous 
salt. The practice has been crowned with complete success; 
the carbonate underwent all the unfavorable changes of long 
