Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1879. 
Chemical  Notes. 
55 1 
The  process  adopted  for  its  manufacture  consists  in  first  preparing 
a  solution  of  the  subsulphate,  following  the  directions  of  the  Pharma- 
copoeia for  the  solution  ;  this  is  evaporated  in  a  tared  capsule  at 
moderate  temperature  until  a  thick  viscid  liquid  is  obtained  ;  this  is  then 
diluted  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  glycerin  to  produce  a  solution  of 
the  above  percentage.  In  order  to  use  this  process  the  quantity  of  dry 
subsulphate  of  iron  in  the  officinal  solution  must  be  known.  By  care- 
ful experiment  it  has  been  found  to  contain  47  per  cent.  The  use  of 
weight  instead  of  measure,  in  the  formula,  is  suggested  by  the  writer 
as  being  easier  and  apt  to  secure  more  accurate  manipulation. 
The  following  process  is  recommended,  the  finished  glycerite  meas- 
uring about  twelve  fluidounces,  the  quantity  directed  by  the  U.  S. 
Pharmacopoeia  for  the  solution  : 
Take  of  liquor  ferri  subsulphatis  6*127  grams>  evaporate  to  3^963 
grains,  continue  the  heat  and  add  glycerin  sufficient  to  make  the  weight 
5*760  grains. 
This  furnishes  the  easily  recollected  percentage  of  dry  salt,  half 
its  weight  being  MonsePs  salt,  each  fluid  drachm  representing  about 
50  grains  of  subsulphate  of  iron — in  exact  figures  51*08  grains. 
It  can  readily  be  diluted  to  any  extent  without  destroying  its  trans- 
parency, either  by  water  or  glycerin,  and  in  this  respect  furnishes  a 
much  superior  article  for  compounding  than  the  dry  salt  of  com- 
merce. Its  viscidity  renders  it  of  that  plastic  character  so  very  ad- 
vantageous where  the  application  is  intended  to  remain  upon  the  sur- 
face of  the  affected  part  and  in  addition  to  the  styptic  effect  of  the  iron 
salt,  the  glycerin  exercises  its  emollient  properties  in  many  ways  and 
particularly  in  preventing  the  formation  of  the  irritating  clots  and  crusts 
peculiar  to  the  salt  itself  or  its  solution. 
CHEMICAL  NOTES. 
By  Prof.  Samuel  P.  Sadtler. 
Inorganic  Chemistry. — The  discovery  of  supposed  elements  in  the 
yttria  and  erbia  minerals  has  not  yet  come  to  an  end.  Cleve  has  been 
studying  some  preparations  containing  erbia,  and  some  residues  left 
after  the  extraction  of  scandia  and  ytterbia,  and  announces  the  discovery 
of  two  new  elements,  one  of  which  he  calls  Thullium,  from  Thule\  the 
ancient  name  of  Scandinavia,  and  the  other  Holmium,  from  the  latin- 
