"Ferro-chlorine" as a new agent in the prevention and treatment of infected wounds

All chemical compounds of chlorine with iron are unstable. When heated solutions of ferric chloride, chlorine easily evaporates; prolonged exposure to light decomposes ferric chloride solutions. When aqueous solutions of ferric chloride are heated, FeCl₃ dissociates into free Fe and C₁ ions. Of the chlorine compounds in medical practice, iron sesquichloride is best known. Ferrum sesquichlor. solutum s. liq. ferr. sesquichlorati is a solution of ferric chloride (FeCl₃-6H₂O (in water 1: 1) according to pharmaceutical ed. 1934). Ferric chloride solution - transparent, dark brown liquid, beats. weight 1.280, dissolves well in water, alcohol and ether. Iron sesquichloride has long been used in medical practice as a hemostatic agent, due to its ability to coagulate the skin and constrict blood vessels. Recently, iron sesquichloride is rarely used by both surgeons, when stopping wound bleeding, and therapists, for gastrointestinal bleeding. Nevertheless, this drug has not been excluded from the list of our pharmacotherapeutic agents until now.