ON  THE  MEDICINAL  HYPOPHOSPHITES.  128 
has  been  made  in  view  of  the  double  purpose  to  which  these 
salts  are  directed  by  Dr.  Churchill,  viz:  the  increase  of  nerve 
force,  and  the  elevation  of  the  tone  of  the  several  functions 
concerned  in  alimentation  and  nutrition;  and  will  afford  an 
agreeable  means  of  testing  practically  their  merit.  The  iron  salt 
is  presented  in  a  form  well  adapted  for  entering  the  circulation, 
whilst  the  acid,  besides  exerting  its  solvent  power,  adds  to  the 
agreeable  taste  of  the  preparation. 
Take  of  Hypophosphite  of  lime,  256  grains, 
Hypophosphite  of  soda,  192  « 
Hypophosphite  of  potassa,  128  " 
Hypophosphite  of  iron*  (recently  precipitated)  96  " 
Hypophosphorous  acid  solution,  q_.  s.  or  240  " 
White  sugar,  12  ounces. 
Extract  of  vanilla,  J  ounce. 
Water,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Dissolve  the  salts  of  lime,  soda  and  potassa  in  six  ounces  of 
water ;  put  the  iron  salt  in  a  mortar,  and  gradually  add  solution 
of  hypophosphorous  acid  till  it  is  dissolved;  to  this  add  the  solu- 
tion of  the  other  salts,  after  it  has  been  rendered  slightly  acid- 
ulous with  the  same  acid,  and  then  water,  till  the  whole  measures 
9  fluid  ounces.  Dissolve  in  this  the  sugar,  with  heat,  and  flavor 
with  the  vanilla.  Without  flavoring,  this  syrup  is  not  unpleasant, 
being  slightly  saline,  and  not  at  all  ferruginous.  Any  other  fla- 
voring may  be  used,  as  orange  peel,  orange  flower  or  ginger.  It 
is  also  suggested  to  physicians  that  glycerin  may  be  used,  wholly 
or  partially,  in  place  of  sugar  when  indicated,  six  ounces  and  a 
half  of  glycerin  being  substituted  for  twelve  ounces  of  sugar. 
The  object  of  acidulating  the  saline  solution  is  to  decompose  any 
alkaline  carbonates  which  may  be  present,  and  which  have  been 
noticed  by  the  writer  in  some  of  the  commercial  soda  salt.  The 
dose  of  this  preparation  is  a  teaspoonful  three  or  four  times  a 
day.  A  teaspoonful  contains  2  grains  of  the  lime  salt,  Ij  of 
the  soda  salt,  1  of  the  potassa  salt,  and  f  of  a  grain  of  the  iron 
salt,  besides  a  little  hypophosphorous  acid. 
*  This  quantity,  96  grains,  of  hypophosphite  of  iron  is  obtained  when 
128  grains  of  hypophosphite  of  soda  dissolved  in  2  ounces  of  water  is  de- 
composed with  a  slight  excess  of  solution  of  persulphate  of  iron,  and  the 
white  precipitate  well  washed  on  a  filter  with  water. 
