Footnote 507:
This fact furnishes the Pharmaceutic Chemist with an easy and
effectual mode of cleansing the green crystals from the yellow
peroxide which forms upon their surface, viz. by washing them in
spirit.
Footnote 508:
By a parity of reasoning, Mr. Carmichael is led to prefer the
phosphate of iron to any other preparation of that metal, in cancer,
because he thinks iron, combined with an animal acid, enters the
system in greater quantity, and unites more intimately with the
juices.
AROMATIC LOZENGES OF STEEL. These consist of sulphate of iron with a
small proportion of the tincture of Cantharides.
Footnote 509:
FORGE WATER. This popular remedy as a lotion for Aphthæ and other
similar diseases, I am well satisfied possesses considerable efficacy.
It may, perhaps, be necessary to state that Forge-water is that in
which the Blacksmith has plunged his hot iron, for the purpose of
refrigeration. It is to be taken early in the morning, when, all the
mechanical impurities having had time to subside, it is beautifully
limpid. Upon examining some of this water I found it to contain
sulphate of iron. The sulphuric acid was probably derived from the
sulphur of the coals.
Footnote 510:
Besides the preparations of Iron mentioned by our author, there is
another which has recently been introduced into practice, by Dr.
Zollickhoffer of Maryland, and this is the _Prussiate of Iron_, or
_Prussian Blue_. Like the other forms of iron it acts as a powerful
tonic, and as a remedy in intermitting and remitting fevers, Dr. Z.
conceives it to possess many advantages over Cinchona. These he states
to be the following: “1. It is void of taste, and may therefore be
much more readily exhibited than the Cinchona Officinalis, which to
some is extremely unpleasant. 2. It may be given in every stage of the
disease, while the administration of bark is confined to the apyrexiæ.
4. The dose is much smaller, being from four to six grains twice or
thrice in twenty-four hours; or at morning, noon and night; while
bark, to be effectual, must be given in much larger doses. 4. It never
disagrees with the stomach, or creates nausea, even in the most
irritable state of this viscus; while bark is not unfrequently
rejected. 5. In its effects as a remedy calculated to prevent the
recurrence of future paroxysms, it is more certain, prompt, and
effectual, than the justly celebrated Cort. Peruvian. 6 and lastly, A
patient treated with this article will recover from the influence of
intermitting and remitting fevers, in the generality of cases, in much
less time than is usual in those cases in which bark is employed.” In
using the Prussiate of Iron, Dr. Zollickhoffer directs that care
should be taken to select that which is of a very dark blue colour,
approaching to a black, having a shining coppery fracture, and
adhering firmly to the tongue.