On the physiological and medicinal properties of iodoform / by R. M. Glover, M.D.

  • Glover, Robert Mortimer, 1816-1859.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the physiological and medicinal properties of iodoform / by R. M. Glover, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF IODOFORM. myle (iodofoim), 1 of formiate of potass, 5 of iodide of potassium, and 4 of water. But if we mix the ingredients in the propor- tion indicated by Liebig's formula, we shall get hardly any iodo- fonn. lodofomi, according to my observations, is best prepared by care- fully adding an aqueous solution of potass to the simple tincture of iodine of the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia until discoloration is effected. Care must be taken, however, to leave a slight excess of iodine. I find that 252 grams of iodine dissolved in 6 ounces and 3 drachms of rectified spirit, and 127 grains of hydrate of potass in 3 ounces of water, with the addition afterwards of 31 oz. of distilled water, gave 38 grains of iodoform. Such is the statement of a gentleman in this town, who lately performed the experiment for me. Of com-se, were the substance prepared on the large scale, the alcohol could be recovered by distillation, and the ioduie also, either in the elementary state, or as iodide and iodate of potass, mixed with for- miate of potass. Iodoform can be prepared with naphtha; but when so prepared, it has not so agreeable an odour as when obtained from alcohol. Iodoform, insoluble in water, is very soluble in alcohol, ether, and wood spirit. It ciystaUizes in brilliant yellow plates from the alco- holic solution. It is volatilized at 212°, and decomposed at a some- what liigher temperatm'e. Its smell is exceedingly powerful, and to me not disagreeable ; although, in houses where I have used it, complaints have been made of the powerful smell of the ointment. The taste is somewhat sweet, but not so agreeable as that of chloro- form. All that we know of its physiological properties, except fi-om its analogy with chloroform (so far as du^ect experiment goes), is derived from an experiment recorded by Dr Cogswell in his elegant work on iodine (p. 122). He calls it sesquiodide of carbon (after Serullas). The following are the details of this most interesting experiment:— At eleven o'clock a.m., an active, strongly made, terrier dog, was made to swallow fifty grains of the sesquiodide of carbon, concealed in a loose fold of paper. The day following, the animal was in good spirits, and seemingly quite unaffected, except so far as was indicated by a disregard for nourishment. On the third day he was indisposed to rise, and at length made but feeble efforts to crawl, the heart beat- ing irregularly, and the belly di'a\ATi in towards the spine. For the whole of the fourth day the animal lay stretched out on the side, and gave no sign of recognition; the head extended, each respi- ration accompanied by a hollow moan, and followed by a universal convulsive movement, the mouth closed, eyes open, pu])ils natural, eyelids winked as usual. Death took place in the night. He found, on inspection, great rigidity of the muscles, great con- gestion of the lungs, and marks of iiTitation, witli a blackisli ni)})ear- ance in the stomach ; all appearances proving the strict analogy in physiological action between this body and chloroform. Appended