33 
HYDRATED PEROXIDE OF IRON. 
It is a question of some interest, whether the antidote, if care- 
fully dried without, or with a very gentle heat, would not 
preserve its efficacy longer than when kept suspended in wa- 
ter. Orfila found, as quoted in the paper, that 16 grammes of 
dry hydrated peroxide neutralized 6 decigrammes of arseni- 
ous acid, but does not mention how long this oxide had been 
prepared. In a paper by Dr. Beck* on this subject, he says, 
that Dr. Van Specz, of Vienna, exhibited rust of iron suc- 
cessfully: and further, * 4 that the Academy of Medicine in 
Paris found the "common subcarbonate of iron" (probably 
the prepared carbonate of the Pharmacopoeia) an efficient 
antidote. Notwithstanding this, Dr. Beck, in a subsequent 
part of the same article, says, that "the dry hydrated oxide 
is inert." There is no doubt that this is the case as respects 
colcothar, which, however, contains no hydrate. 
Your Committee endorse the recommendation of Mr. Proc- 
ter, that the apothecary keep always on hand a solution of the 
persulphate of iron, from which the hydrated peroxide may 
be quickly prepared in case of emergency; — and in the mean 
time the "precipitated carbonate" of the Pharmacopoeia might 
be had recourse to with advantage, as it usually contains more 
or less of the hydrated sesquioxide. 
We believe that it is not advisable to neutralize the ammo- 
nia which remains with the precipitate after moderate wash- 
ing, as advised by Mr. Procter, as we conceive the therapeu- 
tic effect of this alkali desirable, as stimulating the tissues of 
the 'stomach, and assisting it to reject its noxious contents, 
and also in counteracting the prostration, which is well known 
to be one of the earliest effects of the poison. Orfila has 
found that the insoluble compound of arsenic and per- 
oxide is still poisonous, proving fatal when administered 
to animals, though far less virulent than the arsenious acid. 
This poisonous effect he attributes to the action of the acid 
of the gastric juice upon the compound, decomposing it and 
liberating arsenious acid, and it may be prevented by giving 
* See Journal of College of Pharmacy, vol. 13, No. 3. 
