Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Mar.  1876. 
Citrate  of  Iron  and  Quinia. 
107 
with  one  equivalent  of  normal  bismuthous  hydrate.  This  is  a  most 
peculiar  compound,  and  possibly  indicates  that  the  normal  bismuthous 
hydrate  (Bi(OH)3)  differs  in  its  affinities  from  the  basic  or  oxyhydrate 
(Bi(OH)O)  as  the  normal  salts  differ  from  the  oxysalts.  The  com- 
pound treated  with  ammonia  in  excess  becomes  brown,  but  addition  of 
citric  acid  again  restores  the  green  color,  however,  similar  as  in  case  of 
the  ammonio-ferric  citrate  alone,  but  slowly. 
The  new  compound  will  doubtless  become  of  pharmacal  value,  since 
the  property  of  retaining  the  bismuth  in  an  acidulated  solution  must 
strongly  recommend  it. 
NOTE  ON  CITRATE  OF  IRON  AND  QUINIA. 
BY  J.  U.  LLOYD. 
"  Triturate  the  sulphate  of  quinia  with  six  fluidounces  of  distilled 
water,  and,  having  added  sufficient  diluted  sulphuric  acid  to  dissolve  it, 
cautiously  pour  into  the  solution  water  of  ammonia,  with  constant 
stirring,  until  in  slight  excess.  Wash  the  precipitated  quinia  on  a  filter, 
and,  having  added  it  to  the  solution  of  citrate  of  iron,  maintained  at 
the  temperature  of  120°  by  means  of  a  water-bath,  stir  constantly 
until  it  is  dissolved." — U.  S.  P. 
My  experience  is  that  the  process  is  objectionable  in  consequence  of 
too  great  a  temperatue  being  employed.  Precipitated  quinia  melts 
when  added  to  a  solution  of  the  above  temperature,  and  forms  a  gummy, 
sticky  mass,  which  adheres  tenaciously  to  the  stirring  spatula  and  sides 
of  the  containing  vessel. 
When  in  this  form,  quinia  dissolves  very  slowly  in  the  solution  of 
citrate  of  iron. 
To  obviate  this  difficulty,  reduce  the  solution  of  sulphate  of  quinia 
to  the  temperature  of  500  before  precipitating  with  ammonia.  Wash 
the  precipitate  quickly  with  water  of  the  same  temperature.  The 
result  will  be  a  light,  friable,  porous  mass,  which,  when  added  to  the 
solution  of  citrate  of  iron,  also  at  the  temperature  of  500,  will  break  into 
small  particles  when  stirred,  and  quickly  dissolve. 
When  precipitating  quinia  for  other  purposes,  if  cold  water  is  used, 
the  process  will  be  facilitated,  for  the  precipitate  can  be  easily  washed 
without  forming  a  mass  and  sticking  to  the  filter. 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
