ON  THE  TINCTURE  OF  MURIATE  OF  IRON. 
211 
the  pure  bitters.  As  an  alterative,  it  is  spoken  of  as  a  remedy 
of  great  value.  Here,  then,  we  have  a  medicine  uniting  three 
important  properties  of  remedial  agents,  that  of  the  tonic,  diuretic 
and  alterative,  and  must,  if  true  and  successful  in  standing  the 
test  of  practice,  give  us  a  remedy  of  no  mean  value  as  the  future 
may  determine.  Dose  of  the  powdered  bulb  ten  to  thirty  grains. 
Formula  for  a  tincture  and  decoction  are  given  in  the  Eclectic 
Dispensatory,  as  also  one  for  the  alkaloid  "  Corydalia,"  but  the 
substance  it  produces  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  a  mixture  of 
corydalia,  resin,  bitter  extractive,  hydrate  of  magnesia  and 
coloring  matter,  and  is  administered  in  one  grain  doses. 
As  the  pure  alkaloid  is  tasteless  and  does  not  seem  to  possess 
any  sensible  medical  properties,  I  may,  in  truth,  state  that 
Corydalia  is  inert ;  and  the  medicinal  properties  of  the  plant  (if 
any,)  must  reside  in  resin  and  bitter  extractive,  and,  perhaps, 
volatile  oil. 
ON  THE  TINCTURE  OF  MURIATE  OF  IRON. 
Br  Alonzo  Caldwell. 
Since  the  officinal  introduction  of  tincture  of  muriate  of  iron 
by  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  several  attempts  have  been  made  to 
obtain  a  more  certain  formula  than  that  originally  proposed. 
According  to  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory  the  preparation  often 
varies  from  18  to  40  grains  of  sesqui-oxide  of  iron  to  the  fluid 
ounce — which  of  course  is  a  matter  of  great  consideration,  the 
standard  strength  being  32J  grains. 
The  failure  is  no  doubt  attributable  as  often  to  the  sub- 
carbonate  of  iron  as  to  the  muriatic  acid  employed,  it  being  dif- 
ficult to  dissolve  in  that  acid,  especially  when  old,  or  dried  at 
too  high  a  temperature.  The  following  plan,  I  think,  will  ob- 
viate all  difficulties,  and  yield  a  tincture  always  of  the  same 
strength.  It  is  worthy,  at  least,  of  a  trial,  as  it  can  be  made 
in  a  few  minutes: — 
R.  Hydrated  sesqui-oxide  of  iron  (in  form  of  migma)  £xii. 
Acid  muriatic,  3v"j{ 
Alcohol,  Oiss. 
