272 
Ferric  Succinate. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharna, 
June-,  1891. 
abstracted  article  by  L.  Amat  (from  Compt.  Rend.,  in,  676-679) 
on  the  estimation  of  the  acids  of  phosphorus  ;  the  methods  used  are 
oxidation  with  potassium  permanganate  (agreeing  with  the  one  pr-o 
posed  by  me  excepting  a  slightly  lower  temperature)  and  the  mer- 
curic chloride  method  in  which  he  recommends  digestion  at  8o°J 
C.  fori  2  hours ;  this  method  as  described  by  me  gives  better  results 
by  digesting  for  one  hour,  or  even  less,  at  ioo°  C. ;  a  decided  saving 
of  time  with  complete  precipitation. 
V  FERRIC  SUCCINATE.1 
By  Prof.  W.  T.  Wenzell. 
Since  succinic  acid  in  combination  with  the  ferric  radical  has 
recently  been  introduced  by  the  medical  profession,  as  a  remedy  for 
the  relief  of  jaundice,  resulting  from  obstruction  of  the  biliary  duct 
by  calculi,  and  with  apparent  success,  a  demand  for  a  preparation 
combining  efficiency  and  elegance  has  arisen.  The  originator  of 
this  medicine  recommends  the  use  of  the  hydrated  succinate  of  iron 
as  the  preparation  by  which  he  has  obtained  such  good  results  in  the 
treatment  of  the  affection  referred  to.  But  the  preparation  is 
unsightly  and  anything  but  elegant  as  a  pharmaceutical  product. 
Ferric  succinate  in  a  hydrated  state  or  dried,  appears  as  a  cinna- 
mon-brown, amorphous  substance  quite  insoluble  in  water.  It  is 
readily  prepared  by  adding  to  a  solution  in  water  of  an  alkaline 
succinate,  a  solution  of  ferric  sulphate,  as  long  as  a  precipitate  is 
obtained.  In  this  reaction  the  contrary  to  the  law  first  enunciated 
by  the  Saxon  chemist  Wenzel  a  half  a  century  ago  occurs  :  "  When 
two  neutral  salts  are  mixed  together,  in  solution,  and  a  decompo- 
sition *s  effected,  the  products  of  the  decomposition  would  be  also 
neutral  salts."  In  this  instance  a  basic  ferric  succinate  is  produced 
instead  of  a  neutral  succinate,  a  portion  of  the  succinic  acid  being 
liberated  and  remaining  in  solution. 
The  reaction  takes  place  between  one  molecule  of  ferric  sulphate 
1  Succinate  of  iron  having  again  attracted  some  attention  as  a  medicinal 
agent,  we  republish  this  paper  which  appeared  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Pharmceutical  Society  and  College  of  Pharmacy  for  1881.  It  was 
noticed  in  this  Journal  in  June,  1881,  p.  318,  where  the  formula  for  the  solu- 
tion was  republished. — Editor. 
