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USE  OF  OXALATE  OF  IRON  IN  MEDICINE. 
I  soon  learned,  though,  that  this  article  had  already  been 
brought  to  the  notice  of  this  Association  some  years  ago,  but  for 
some  reason,  unknown  to  me,  little  or  no  notice  was  taken  of  it ; 
and,  a  few  months  ago,  an  English  pharmaceutist,  it  seems, 
claimed  the  honor  of  its  discovery,  and  made  known  its  valuable 
properties  as  a  medicine. 
I  deem  it,  therefore,  eminently  proper  that  the  claim  of  Dr. 
Sch  a  offer,  for  first  using  Oxalate  of  Iron  and  making  known 
its  invaluable  medicinal  properties,  as  well  as  other  useful  pur- 
poses to  which  it  may  be  put,  should  be  heard  in  this  Association  ; 
First,  That  it  may  be  brought  prominently  before  the  pro- 
fession, medical  and  chemical; 
Secondly,  That  the  question  as  to  its  paternity  may  be  settled 
forever. 
Having  learned,  several  years  ago,  that  Dr.  Schaeffer,  Pro- 
fessor of  Chemistry  in  the  "  National  Medical  College  of  the 
District  of  Columbia,"  introduced  the  article  under  notice  to  his 
medical  friends  as  possessing  peculiar  and  very  desirable  proper- 
ties in  the  treatment  of  disease,  I  addressed  a  note  to  him,  re- 
questing that  he  would  give  me  a  history  of  its  introduction  into 
medicine,  its  medical  properties,  &c,  &c. 
I  desire,  for  the  information  of  the  members  of  this  Associa- 
tion and  for  that  of  the  medical  profession  at  large,  both  of  the 
Eastern  and  Western  Hemispheres,  to  read  Dr.  Schaeffer's  let- 
ter to  me,  in  reply  to  my  note.  It  will,  I  am  sure,  be  found 
interesting  to  all  who  may  read  or  hear  it  read. 
I  can  safely  say  that  Oxalate  of  Iron  has  been  constantly 
used  as  a  medicine  in  the  District  of  Columbia  during  the  last 
ten  years. 
Of  its  medical  and  chemical  properties  I  will  let  Dr.  Schaeffer 
speak.  The  formula  for  its  preparation  may  be  found  in  a  little 
book,  entitled  "  Non-officinal  Formulae  in  local  use  in  the  District 
of  Columbia." 
I  would  further  observe,  in  addition  to  what  the  Doctor  says, 
that  pure  glycerin  seems  to  me  to  be  the  best  vehicle  in  which 
to  administer  it. 
Washington,  D.  (7.,  Sept.  5th,  1867. 
Dear  Sir  : — In  answer  to  your  inquiry,  I  send  the  following 
