iron is found in the three kingdoms of nature, seldom pure, generally oxyclized ; in the so-called aquas martiales (steel springs) ; iron is found in combination with oxygen and carbonic acid ; iron is also found in the ashes of many plants digitalis, helleb. niger, etc.) ; in tea, where it was first discovered by Mulder ; it is one of the chief constituents of the blood, where, according to Rose, it exists as an oxide, and, according to Berzelius, as a pure metal. The best iron ores are said to be found in Sweden, Norway and Eussia. In med- icine we use the so-called ferrum cusum or welded iron. Iron unites with all simple, non-metallic bodies, except hydrogen, and it dissolves in almost any acid, forming various precipitates, according as the protoxydc, peroxyde, or deuteroxyde had been dis- solved. In homoeopathic practice we use ferrum metallicum, ferrum acet- icum, ferrum carbonicum, ferrum iodatum, ferrum muriaticum, ferrum sulphuricum. The metallic iron is obtained in the shape of a fine powder ; it is perfectly free from rust. We make triturations, taking care that during this process the iron does not become oxydized. Previous to making these triturations, the sugar of milk, mortar and pestle should be warmed in order to remove every possible trace of moisture. Petruschky, a young man of vigorous constitution, swallowed four times a day from four to twenty-four drops, commencing with four-drop doses and gradually in- creasing to twenty-four. Previous to his taking the iron, his blood was bright red, containing an inconsid- erable number of small, colorless blood-corpuscles. After swallowing the iron, the blood was dark-red, the blood-corpuscles were deeply colored and had sharp edges; the blood coagulated less readily than before the proving, and the serum was of a more deep yellow color. This prover was exceedingly sensitive to the action of iron ; it developed the fol- lowing interesting symptoms : Heaviness in the head, want of freedom in the frontal region and pressure in the temples. Sensation of excessive ftilncss in the head. Uncommon serious disposi- tion; the patient felt disposed to attach much importance to small things, lickling in the urethra, with urging to urinate ; the tickling gradually extended from the navicular fossa to the neck of the bladder. Extraordinary feeling of strength and buoyancy of spirits. Oppression on the chest, increasing with desire to draw a long breath, slight stitches in the lungs and a tightness in the region of the heart. Pulse sixty-one, tense. Feeling of warmth in the stomach. Sense of weariness in the FERRUM. 113