Analysis  of  Bitter  Wine  of  Iron.  5 
U.S.P.,No.  1. 
No.  2. 
No  3. 
No.  4. 
No.  5. 
No.  6. 
Color. 
greenish, 
yellow- 
brown. 
very  dark 
greenish- 
brown. 
dark  red- 
dish-brown 
reddish- 
brown. 
light  red- 
dish-brown. 
reddish- 
brown. 
Taste. 
very  bitter. 
-  "bitter. 
medium 
bitter. 
medium 
bitter. 
i-±\J  ij  uiuuci. 
Sp.  gr.  at 
20°  C. 
1.114 
]  049 
1  0^1 
1  C\AA 
Per  cent, 
of  alcohol 
by  weight. 
20.5  p.  c. 
15.75  p.  c. 
14  27  p.  c. 
9.57  p.  c. 
13.    p.  c. 
9.36  p.  c. 
Fixed 
residue. 
13.25  " 
10.15  " 
10.30  " 
8.075  " 
11.20  " 
5.65  " 
Ash. 
0.70  " 
1.80  " 
1.41  " 
1.475  " 
2.00  " 
1.40  " 
Fe2  O3 
0.50  " 
0  42  " 
0.475  " 
0.35  " 
0.48  " 
0.225  " 
Alkaloid. 
quinine. 
0.48  p.  c 
cinchoni- 
dine. 
0  40  p.  c 
cinchoni- 
dine. 
0.225  p.  c. 
quinine. 
0.125  p.  c. 
quinine. 
0.45  p.  c. 
undeter- 
mined. 
0.05  p.  c. 
Citric  or 
Tartaric 
acid. 
citric  acid. 
tartaric, 
trace  of 
citric  acid. 
citric  acid. 
citric  acid. 
tartaric  acid 
tartaric  acid 
As  no  method  for  assaying  this  preparation  is  offered  by  the  Phar- 
macopoeia, it  occurs  to  the  writer  that  the  following  directions  might 
aid  in  its  examination  : 
Note  physical  properties,  which  should  not  be  far  from  those 
described  above,  with  a  specific  gravity  of  1.110  to  1.120.  Estimate 
alcohol  by  the  method  given,  the  amount  by  weight  should  not  be  far 
from  20  per  cent.  Determine  dry  extract  by  evaporation  on  a  water- 
bath  to  constant  weight,  ignite  this  and  determine  percentage  of  ash ; 
from  which  estimate  the  iron.  Treat  20  gm.  of  the  solution  of  bitter 
wine  of  iron  with  0.100  gm.  of  tartaric  acid,  add  sodium  hydrate  in 
slight  excess,  agitate  with  four  successive  portions  of  chloroform, 
mix  these  four  chloroformic  extractions,  evaporate  to  constant  weight, 
and  weigh  ;  the  yield  should  be  0.48  per  cent.  Determine  the  identity 
of  this  alkaloidal  residue.  Finally  apply  tests  for  citric  and  tartaric 
acids,  those  for  the  former  acid  in  a  complex  mixture  can  only  be  of 
a  confirmatory  character,  but  those  for  the  latter  one  are  more  posi- 
tive; for,  when  the  silver  mirror  is  obtained,  there  is  little  room  left 
for  doubt. 
Sodium  borate,  to  which  the  absurd  name  "antifangme  "  has  been  applied* 
is  recommended  in  solution  (fifteen  per  cent.)  in  the  treatment  of  diphtheria. 
It  is  applied  locally  by  the  spray  or  with  a  soft  brush,  and  is  also  to  be  taken 
internally  in  doses  of  from  five  to  twenty  minims. — Quart.  Therap.  Rev. 
