Am'jSyriSiarm'}       Syrup  of  Hypophosphites  with  Iron.  357 
good  means  for  finding  the  approximate  amount  of  the  acids  present. 
The  above  experiments  prove,  I  think,  evidently,  that  the  formula,  as 
given  by  the  new  Pharmacopoeia,  for  making  syrup  of  Tulu  is  by  far 
the  best.  Every  apothecary  will  do  well  to  follow  the  same,  and  not 
allow  the  substitution  of  an  almost  worthless  syrup,  the  syrup  of  the 
old  Pharmacopoeia. 
Cleveland,  O.,  June,  1884. 
SYRUP  OF  HYPOPHOSPHITES  WITH  IRON. 
By  Charles  D.  Randall. 
In  addition  to  the  perfect  stability,  one  of  the  chief  qualities  which 
characterizes  the  ferric  from  the  ferrous  salts,  is  the  more  agreeable 
taste  of  the  former  especially  when  existing  in  combination  with  an 
organic  acid.  Syrup  of  hypophosphites  which  was  admitted  to  the  list 
of  preparations  in  the  last  revision  of  the  pharmacopoeia  when  made  by 
the  process  there  ordered  contains  to  the  fluid  drachm  about  three 
grains  of  calcium  hypophosphite  and  one  grain  each  of  the  correspond- 
ing salts  of  sodium  and  potassium.  The  tendency  of  many  of  the 
soluble  iron  salts  to  precipitate  when  in  the  presence  of  the  hypophos- 
phites, has  caused  much  trouble  in  the  selection  of  a  suitable  salt 
without  this  property.  Finally,  after  the  subject  was  much  discussed, 
ferrous  lactate  was  selected  as  being  the  least  objectionable,  and  is 
ordered  in  the  preparation  of  the  syrup ,  with  iron,  in  the  proportion 
of  ninety-six  grains  to  the  pint. 
According  to  the  pharmacopoeia  ferric  hypophosphite  is  soluble  in  a 
solution  of  sodium  citrate  forming  a  green  liquid.  It  is  found  by 
direct  experiment  that  one  equivalent  of  the  hypophosphite  requires 
one  of  the  citrate  for  complete  solution.  This  solution  on  contentra- 
tion  is  shown  to  contain  a  mixture  of  crystals  of  sodium  hypophosphite 
and  an  amorphous  compound.  The  same  mixture  may  be  obtained  by 
the  inverse  process — the  union  in  solution  of  one  equivalent  of  ferric 
citrate  and  three  equivalents  of  sodium  hypophosphite.  If,  however, 
one  equivalent  of  ferric  citrate  be  treated  in  solution  with  one  equivalent 
of  sodium  hypophosphite  an  apple  green  solution  results,  containing  an 
amorphous  compound  which  may  be  represented  thus  : 
Fe  —  Py 
II  '  (1) 
Ci  -  Na. 
