Martial BALLS, in pharmacy, are a mixture of filings of iron and of cream of tartar, formed into a solid consistency and form of a ball, which is used to impregnate water or other liquids with iron dissolved by the tartareous acid. To make these balls, one part of filings of iron and two parts powdered cream of tartar are mixed well together, and put into an earthen or iron vessel with some water. This mixture is to be stirred from time to time, till it becomes almost dry; and then it is to receive more water, and to be stirred as before. This treatment is to be continued till it acquires, when nearly dry, somewhat of the consistency and tenacity of softened rosin. Then it is to be rolled up into the form of a ball, which is generally kept tied up in a rag; and when intended to be used, it is to be infused in water, till it gives some colour to that liquid. The infusion of martial balls is tonic, vulnerary, discutient, and aperitive; and is employed both internally and externally *. Iron being soluble in all acids, is attacked in this preparation by the tartareous acid, which reduces it to a kind of neutral salt not crystallizable. This salt would remain liquid, and would form a soluble martial tartar, called tartarified tincture of Mars. If proper proportions of filings of iron and cream of tartar be used, and treated long enough for an entire and complete combination, nothing would be obtained but a liquor or magma, which could not be preserved in a solid form, but would be continually moist. Therefore, in the martial ball there is a good deal of the cream of tartar and filings of iron not combined together, by which its solidity is preserved.