Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
August,  1884.  i 
Feme  Chlorides. 
413 
preparation,  which  for  this  reason  owned  a  disposition  to  generate  a 
peculiar  opacity  or  fluorescence  and  gradually  deposit  a  sediment.  On 
reducing  it  to  about  one-third  this  strength  the  decomposition  is  pre- 
vented or  arrested. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  has  now  adopted  a  solution  of  normal  ferric 
acetate,  which  will  probably  be  more  stable  than  the  concentrated  and 
basic  compounds  elsewhere  in  use.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  vola- 
tile acetic  acid  does  not  supply  a  desideratum  in  the  range  of  these 
compounds,  the  writer  experimented  with  lactic  acid.  It  was  then 
found  that  no  soluble  hydro-salt  could  be  formed  by  it,  at  least  with 
the  use  of  ferric  hydrocarbonate. 
On  the  addition  of  a  very  small  proportion  of  chlorhydric  acid 
solution  resulted  at  once  in  the  production  of  a  deep  brown  basic  com- 
pound. By  varying  the  relative  amounts  of  the  chlorhydric  and  lac- 
tic acids  within  certain  limits  a  large  number  of  these  compounds  can 
be  formed.  The  writer,  however,  prefers  to  unite  them  in  such  pro- 
portion that  the  chlorhydric  acid  shall  constitute  one- third  of  the  acid 
content,  and  that  these  combined  shall  be  one-third  of  the  normal 
equivalence.  In  this  manner  a  hydro-salt  is  obtained  whose  amount 
when  dried  in  scales  is  in  close  accord  with  the  molecular  formula  syn- 
thetically constructed  and  represented  by  the  expression  Fe3ClLc2(OH)6, 
with  a  molecular  weight  of  483*4. 
This  ought  to  be  a  valuable  substance,  for  therapeutical  reasons, 
and  might  in  this  connection  replace  quite  a  number  of  less  adaptable 
compounds.  It  is  in  so  far  superior  to  dialyzed  iron  that  it  can  be 
prepared  in  a  solid,  soluble  form,  and  exhibited  in  any  strength  of  solu- 
tion. The  metallic  flavor  is  almost  if  not  wholly  absent.  It  has  an 
agreeable,  sweetish,  slightly  astringent  and  mildly  acidulous  taste. 
The  salt  can  readily  be  obtained  in  scales  which  are  slightly  deliques- 
cent in  a  humid  atmosphere,  but  otherwise  permanent  and  promptly 
and  completely  soluble.  The  solution  is  remarkable  for  the  fact  that 
moderate  temperatures  do  not  disturb  it,  but  boiling  it  a  short  time 
causes  a  profuse  non-gelatinous  precipitate,  which  promptly  redissolves 
on  cooling.  The  process  for  preparing  it  in  a  definite  solution  as  well 
as  in  scales  is  as  follows : 
Solution  of  ferric  sulphate   2,085  parts. 
Sodium  bicarbonate   850  " 
Lactic  acid   240  " 
Diluted  chlorhydric  acid   364  11 
Water  sufficient  to  make     2,085  " 
