Amjune%886?rm'}  Pharmaceutical  Notes  from  Purdue  University.  289 
Fortunately,  these  are  very  readily  distinguished  by  the  taste,  if  only 
one  is  present,  and  the  separate  lumps  may  sometimes  be  distinguished 
in  the  mixture.  If  each  article  could  be  sold  under  its  true  name, 
much  confusion  might  be  avoided. 
XIII.    Syrupus  Ferri  Iodidi.  BY  e.  j.  mowey. 
History. — Iodine  was  discovered  by  Courtois  in  1812,  and  used 
in  medicine  by  Dr.  Coindet  in  1819.  Iodide  of  iron  was  used  by 
Dr.  Pierquin  in  1824,  Durand  (Journal  of  Pharmacy  for  Jan.,  1833) 
gave  his  method  for  preparing  "  Dr.  Jackson's  solution  of  Iodide  of 
Iron,"  which  contained  no  sugar  and  was  very  unstable.  The  addi- 
tion of  saccharine  matter  was  suggested  by  Frederking  (Buchner's 
Repertorium  cler  Pharmacie,  1839,  vol.  lxv,  p.  370),  and  experiments 
were  made  by  Procter  (Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  April,  1840)  upon  the  use 
of  sugar  of  milk,  manna,  cane  sugar,  honey  and  uncrystallizable 
sugar.  The  first  two  have  little  protective  power.  "  Syrup  of  guru" 
was  used  by  Dupasquier  (Jour,  de  Pharmacie,  March,  1841),  and 
simple  syrup  by  Beral  (Am!  Jour.  Phar.,  April,  1841).  It  was  found 
impossible  to  keep  solid  iodide  of  iron ;  Squire  recommended  the 
addition  of  a  wire  coil  to  the  solution,  but  a  lady  patient  wanted  to 
know  whether  the  iron  screw  must  be  swallowed  whole !  Thompson 
succeeded  in  preserving  the  iodide  in  strong  syrup,  which,  he  says, 
may  be  exposed  to  air  and  light,  and  may  be  combined  with  astrin- 
gent vegetable  infusions,  etc.,  or  with  dilute  mineral  acids. 
T.  &  H.  Smith  (Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  June,  1847)  favored  protection 
from  air  and  light.  Tozier  (Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  Jan.,  1853,)  and 
Crew  (Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  Jan.,  1854),  give  directions  for  quickly  pre- 
paring the  syrup.  Maisch  (Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  Sept.,  1854  and  May, 
1855),  details  numerous  experiments,  showing  that  the  action  of  light 
is  desirable,  if  air  is  excluded,  and  that  oxide  of  iron,  which  has  been 
precipitated  in  aqueous  solution,  may  be  again  dissolved  by  the  action 
of  sugar  in  the  sunlight. 
Groves  (Lond.  Phar.  Jour.,  March,  1868)  proved  that  dilute  phos- 
phoric or  sulphuric  acid  preserves  the  syrup,  and  he  recommends 
J  ounce  of  the  former  to  31  ounces  of  cold  syrup. 
Squibb  (Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  March,  1868)  restored  a  discolored 
syrup  by  solution  of  hyposulphite  of  sodium;  15  to  20  grains  were 
dissolved  in  an  ounce  of  water,  and  15  to  20  minims  of  this  solution 
were  sufficient  for  1  pound  of  syrup  not  darker  than  brown  sherry 
19 
