298  Elixirs  Containing  Iron.  {^"juiyiimr* 
paration  of  carbolic  acid  diluted  with  an  argillaceous  powder  among 
the  articles  of  our  national  standard. 
Clay  appears  preferable  to  other  substances  for  this  purpose,  on 
account  of  entering  into  no  combination  with  the  acid,  but  serving 
simply  as  a  neutral,  inert,  mechanical  diluent. 
ON  ELIXIRS  CONTAINING  IRON. 
By  W.  W.  Seay. 
A  considerable  discussion  has  been  carried  on  regarding  the  propri- 
ety of  furnishing  the  various  elixirs  for  the  use  of  the  profession  and 
the  public.  My  own  experience  has  suggested  a  decided  impression 
in  their  favor,  and,  while  they  can  never  take  the  place  of  similar 
officinal  preparations,  they  can  be  made,  with  proper  care,  fully  equal 
in  medicinal  effect,  and  certainly  more  agreeable  to  the  taste.  AYhilst 
deprecating  any  fundamental  change  of  our  old  time-honored  and  tried 
remedies,  I  think  many  of  them  could  be  improved  in  flavor  and 
appearance,  and  do  our  art  no  discredit.  I  have  known  patients  to 
absolutely  refuse  to  take  many  of  our  tonics  long  before  their  use 
should  have  been  discontinued,  simply  on  the  ground  of  their  nauseous 
bitter  taste.  These  elixirs  are  elegant  in  appearance,  and  have  a 
decidedly  pleasant  flavor,  which  I  think  is  a  great  consideration  where 
medicines  have  to  be  taken  for  a  length  of  time.  As  furnished  us  by 
large  manufacturing  firms,  my  observations  are  opposed  to  their  use- 
fulness, since  in  nearly  every  instance  they  lack  the  necessary  strength. 
Certain  salts  of  iron  can  be  added  to  almost  any  of  our  tinctures 
(modified  somewhat  in  preparation)  without  precipitation,  and  prove 
as  useful  as  before  their  addition.  I  propose  furnishing  a  few  recipes, 
the  formulae  of  which  I  have  originated  and  found  useful.  I  do  not 
claim  any  great  scientific  achievement  for  them,  but  I  do  think  they 
are  preferable  to  any  I  have  yet  seen  in  use.  They  retain  their 
tannic  acid  and  natural  comhinatiojis  a^yparently  unchanged^  at  all 
events^  without  any  great  chemical  disturbance.  It  will  be  observed 
that  alcohol  of  officinal  dilute  strength  is  taken,  and  the  drugs  ex- 
hausted by  it,  and  then  sugar  is  added,  which  increases  the  hulk  with- 
out interfering  with  its  solvent  actio7i.  The  general  full  dose  being 
in  most  cases  about  one-half  fluidounce,  the  spirituous  strength  will 
amount  to  only  one  and  one-third  fluiddrachms  of  officinal  alcohol, 
