Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1891. 
} 
Solution  of  Succinate  of  Iron. 
215 
Succinate  of  iron,  .  .  . 
Potassium  citrate,  .  .  . 
Glycerin,  
Water  sufficient  to  make 
80  grs. 
6  drams. 
Yz  oz. 
4  oz. 
Dissolve  the  citrate  in  the  glycerin  with  heat,  add  the  iron  salt 
in  small  portions  with  the  required  amount  of  water.  Boil,  cool 
and  filter.  The  resulting  solution  is  of  a  yellowish  green  color, 
resembling  the  elixir  of  quinine,  iron  and  strychnine  very  much,  of 
a  ferruginous  taste  and  acid  reaction.  It  is  miscible  with  water  in  all 
proportions. 
The  iron  salt  employed  was  prepared  by  precipitating  solution  ot 
iron  tersulphate,  diluted,  with  a  solution  of  sodium  succinate.  The 
salt  is  of  a  deep  red  color  very  much  like  Fe2  (OH)6,  without  odor 
or  taste.    Both  solutions  have  on .3  weeks'  standing  not  shown  any' 
change  in  appearance. 
Solution  of  Ferrous  Succinate. — If  succinic  acid  is  saturated  either 
with  freshly  precipitated  ferrous  carbonate  or  the  saccharated  car- 
bonate and  filtered,  a  reddish  liquid  is  obtained  of  a  decided  acid 
taste  and  reaction.  It  is  stable,  but  contains  only  a  slight  amount 
of  the  salt,  insufficient  to  have  any  therapeutic  value. 
On  the  salicylate  of  iron  solution,  as  proposed  in  Remington's 
Pharmacy,  an  attempt  was  made  to  prepare  one  of  succinate  of  iron, 
as  follows,  acetate  of  sodium  being  employed  to  stay  decom- 
position : 
Dissolve  in  ]/2  ounce  of  water  and  mix  with  a  solution  of  sodium 
succinate  32  grains  in  y2  ounce  of  water. 
This  mixture  rapidly  oxidizes,  precipitating  ferric  succinate.  It 
may  be  somewhat  retarded,  but  not  prevented  by  an  addition  of 
glycerin.  As  in  the  case  of  the  ferric  solution,  combination  of  the 
acid  and  iron  salt  takes  place  in  the  presence  of  potassium  citrate, 
if  saturation  is  made  with  ferrous  carbonate. 
Either  the  freshly  precipitated  or  the  saccharated  ferrous  carbon- 
ate may  be  employed.  The  following  process,  while  it  requires 
some  time  for  completion,  is  perhaps  the  most  satisfactory  for  pre- 
paring the  ferrous  solution. 
Succinic  acid,  55  K^s. 
Freshly  ppted.  ferrous  carbonate,  54  gr9. 
Formula  : 
Ferrous  sulphate  cryst. 
Sodium  acetate,  .  .  . 
24  grs. 
20  grs. 
