Ferri Iodidum

Blancard's iodide-of-iron pills were formerly prescribed to be made as follows: Combine 4 grammes of iodine with 2 grammes of iron filings in 8 grammes of water, filter upon 5 grammes of honey, evaporate to 10 grammes, and make into pills with althaea and liquorice. The method for pil. ferri iodidi, U.S.P., is better, viz.: Reduced iron 4 grammes, iodine 5 grammes, powdered liquorice 4 grammes, powdered sugar 4 grammes, powdered liquorice extract 1 gramme, water 6 c.c. Stir the iron, water, and iodine in a mortar until the red colour disappears; add the mixed powders drive off the moisture on a water-bath, stirring constantly until the mass is of proper consistence, and divide into 100 pills. Coat with toluinated ether. At the dispensing-counter the ready-made ferrous iodide is usually employed, in which case powder it with its own weight of sugar of milk and liquorice, and mass with dispensing-syrup. The following is an exceptional prescription:

Misce et in pilulas triginta dividenda.

First make a mixture of yellow wax 4 parts, powdered curd soap 1 part, and balsam of tolu 1 part, by melting in a water-bath. Mix the carbolic acid with 35 grains of this, and mass with the rest of the ingredients previously mixed together. Roll and cut quickly, and coat with French chalk or gelatin.

Ferri Oxalas

The ferrous salt is given in doses of 2 to 4 grains in pill. Kaolin ointment makes a good and permanent mass.

Ferri Phosphas

A good mass is made with glycerin of tragacanth or theriacanth. Phosphoric acid is also used (see page 95). The soluble phosphate (pyrophosphate or citrophosphate) is much used in the United States, as in the following:

Fiat massa et divide in pilulas XL.

Mix the oil and extract with the calcium phosphate, add the iron phosphate, and mass with dispensing-syrup. Lactate and Malate of iron may be massed in the same way as the phosphate.

Ferri Protochloridum

This is very deliquescent, and may contain a considerable amount of absorbed moisture. It should be dried carefully on a water-bath, powdered, and massed quickly with a very small quantity of mucilage of acacia; roll in lycopodium, place in a bottle, and nearly fill up with lycopodium. An ordinary coat of varnish is almost useless for a very deliquescent pill: it is much more important to exclude the air which supplies the moisture. An excellent mass which allows leisurely manipulation is made by adding about an eighth of its weight of powdered liquorice-root and sufficient anhydrous wool-fat to mass.