178 
SYRUP  OF  THE  PHOSPHATES  OF  IRON,  ETC. 
to  be  an  important  agent  in  altering  the  morbid  state  of  the  nervous 
apparatus  which  presides  over  the  function  of  nutrient  assimila- 
tion. Physiologically,  this  influence  may  be  supposed  to  be 
attributable  to  the  well  known  action  of  the  strychnine  salts  on 
the  spinal  cord,  as  well  as  by  direct  stimulus  to  the  filaments  of 
the  great  sympathetic  plexuses  distributed  to  the  stomach  and 
intestines.  From  the  general  tonic  and  invigorating  effect  of 
this  drug,  its  influence  on  the  stomach  and  promotion  of  appetite, 
as  well  as  by  the  improved  assimilation  of  food  which  it  induces, 
it  is  a  very  valuable  medicine  in  cases  of  strumous  children 
threatened  with  scrofulous  degeneration  and  ultimately  with 
localized  tubercular  development.  As  a  preparative  to  the  use 
of  cod-liver  oil,  and  in  certain  cases  as  a  concomitant  to  this  food 
substitute,  the  syrup  of  the  three  phosphates  will  be  found  a 
very  important  adjunct  in  the  treatment  of  numerous  forms  of 
strumous  disease. 
"  But  the  employment  of  this  admirable  combination  is  not 
limited  to  the  cases  just  mentioned.  In  depressed  states  of  the 
system  in  the  adult  and  the  aged,  in  several  of  the  conditions 
tending  to  adipose  degeneration  of  important  organs,  such  as  the 
heart  and  kidneys,  the  syrup  of  the  phosphates  will  be  found  a 
serviceable  and  reliable  remedy.  Where  it  is  desired  to  combine 
a  tonic  and  styptic  to  aid  in  checking  the  drain  of  albumen 
from  the  system  in  chronic  disease  of  the  kidneys,  this  combina- 
tion will  be  found  of  great  use. 
"  In  Many  forms  of  cutaneous  diseases  where  a  tonic  effect  is 
desired,  this  combination  will  be  employed  with  benefit." 
For  the  benefit  of  our  readers  we  give  the  formula  for  the 
preparation  of  this  valuable  tonic,  as  obtained  from  the  last 
edition  of  Dr.  Aitken's  "Practice  of  Medicine."  This  syrup 
(prepared  by  Neergard)  is  now  in  use  in  this  city  among  many 
physicians,  and  is  found  to  fully  sustain  the  high  commendation 
bestowed  upori  it  by  Drs.  Aitken  and  Lyons. — [Ed.N. Y.M.J. ] 
"R.  Ferri  sulph.,       .       .       .  gv. 
Sod?e  phosph.,     .       .       .  gj. 
Quiniae  sulph.,     .       .       .       grs.  cxcii. 
Acid  sulph.  dil.,  .       .       .       q.  s. 
Aquae  Ammoniee,.       '.       .       q.  s. 
