Observations on the remarkable effects of iodine in bronchocele and schrophula : being a translation of three memoirs published by J.R. Coindet, M.D. of Geneva.

  • Coindet, Jean François, 1774-1834.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the remarkable effects of iodine in bronchocele and schrophula : being a translation of three memoirs published by J.R. Coindet, M.D. of Geneva. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    MEMOIR I. DISCOVERY OF A NEW REMEDY FOR BRONCHOCELE ; COMMUNICATED TO THE HELVETIAN SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES ASSEMBLED AT GENEVA, JULY 25. 1820. About a year since, whilst seeking a formula in the work of Cadet de Gassineourt, I found that Russell had recommended for bronehocele the fucus vesiculo- sus, under the name of Ætkiop’s vegetabilis. Ignorant at that time what relation could exist between this plant and sponge, I suspected, from analogy, that iodine was the active principle in both these marine productions ; I therefore tried it, and the astonishing success obtained from its use, encouraged me to continue my researches, which were the more useful, as they tended to the discovery of what we had to expect, from a medicine as yet unknown, in a disease, which, when it occurs in ad¬ vanced life, or when the tumours which constitute it have acquired a certain degree of bulk and hardness, is so difficult of cure. The bronehocele, or goitre, is, for the most part, an indolent tumour, formed by the developement of the thyroid gland occupying its centre, either of its lobes, or even its entire substance. It often hap¬ pens that several lobules are developed upon a lobe already augmented in volume, which form prominen¬ cies that may ultimately become the seat of some organic affection. Goitres are known to acquire an extensive size, and weigh several pounds. It is of rare occurrence, if, under these circumstances, we do not meet with deep organic lesions, or find the centre of these tumours, cartilaginous, cretaceous, or osseous ; should they ulcerate, the ulcers are neither phaga- a 3