[Grammar] It is said that ..., that ....

[sitifan]

It is said that the nerve poison is the more primitive of the two, that the blood poison is, so to speak, a newer product from an improved formula．(quoted from the link below)
https://www.enfamily.cn/thread-16125-1-1.html

What does "it" refer to in the above sentence?

 

[GoesStation]

Nothing. It's a dummy pronoun.

 

[sitifan]

Which clause does the dummy pronoun "it" refer to, the first that clause or the second that clause?

 

[jutfrank]

Which clause does the dummy pronoun "it" refer to, the first that clause or the second that clause?

This question doesn't make sense. The dummy It doesn't refer to anything, as GoesStation has said.

One way to understand the passive phrase It is said is by paraphrasing it with People say.

[People say] that the nerve poison is the more primitive of the two [and people say] that the blood poison is ...

 

[sitifan]

Is the sentence below also acceptable?
It is said that the nerve poison is the more primitive of the two and that the blood poison is, so to speak, a newer product from an improved formula. (written by me)

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes.