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ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF IODINE IN CUTANEOUS DISEASES.
8
fused without any effect.
Iodine
was
vo’a-
ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF tilized, and left no traces. The nitrate of silver fused, and left, after the expulsion of IODINE IN CUTANEOUS DISEASES. its acid, a mark of silver, which was easily By THOMAS JEFFREYS, M.D., Liverpool.
rubbed off. The acetate and nitrate of lead THE singularly good effects of iodine in left a little yellow oxide and metallic lead. The tartrate of antimony and potassa was glandular diseases are now generally known partly carbonized, and the metal was re- and admitted, but I am not aware of its duced. Calomel volatilized, and left no been used internaliy in cutaneous stain. Sulphur and phosphorus melted, and diseases, and as I am inclined to think that burnt away without reacting on the mica in it will be found an efficacious agent in the the slightest degree. These experiments cure of some of them when almost every are amply sufficient to call the attention of other remedy has failed, I beg to communichemists to an auxiliary in analytic re- cate the following remarks on the subject. search, which recommends itself by its ex- About seven years ago the external applica. treme simplicity, its moderate price, and tion of the tincture of iodine was much talkits practical utility.—Arch. de Brandes, ed of, and used by myself and others in vol. xxxiii. cap. 3. p. 265. Liverpool; and, as far as my own opportunities were concerned, with little or no benefit. Having at that. time a case of a NICOTINE THE ALKALOID PRINCIPLE OF very obstinate nature, in which the disease had existed chiefly upon the back of the TOBACCO. hands for several years under the form of MM. Posselt and Reimann have com- psoriasis, I thought it probable that as the pletely succeeded in separating the alkaloid external use of iodine had in some instances principle which Vanquelin believed to exist been successful, it might be worth a trial in tobacco, but which that distinguished given internally. The result was a complete chemist failed to obtain in a separate state. removal of the impetiginous eruption, alThe new substance nicotine, as described though the disease had been distressingly by the present authors, is liquid at 60 cent. troublesome for six or seven years, more or Fahr.) transparent, of a brown-red less. In this instance almost every remedy colour, of a disagreeable, pungent, odour, in ordinary use had been tried in vain ; the like that of dried tobacco, and which is in- Harrogate waters drunk at the well, with creased by an elevation of temperature. the aid of the baths for five weeks, afforded Taste excessively acrid, and remaining long temporary relief but nothing more. I on the tongue. It communicates a greasy began with ten drops twice a day, increasing stain to paper, disappearing in twelve them daily until thirty were taken night and hours ; specific gravity greater than water; morning, for one month after the full dose volatile in the open air, leaving a small re- bad been attained. It may, however, be sinous residuum ; boils at 2460 cent. (4600 worthy of remark, that the unpleasant and Fahr.), burns when touched by a lighted depressing sensation upon the nervous systaper, and at 100° cent. (212° Fahr.) evolves tem was such as almost to deter me from its abundant white vapour. Nicotine is solu- use,-an effect which continued more or less ble in water in all proportions ; the solution for many months, and which was almost as is decidedly alkaline, and, diluted with bad as the disease itself. This inconveni10,000 parts of water, still preserves its ence, however, I am inclined to think, will acrid taste. It is equally soluble in alcohol, be more felt by those who are possessed of ether, and almond oil. The etherial solution nervous irritability, than by the robust. mixed with muriatic, tartaric, or acetic Since the above trial I have prescribed it acids, parts with all its nicotine, and salts, in other cases of psoriasis, and also in the insoluble in ether, are produced. Neutra- differentt varieties of herpes, and with almost lized by phosphoric acid, the new alkaloid never-failing success in lepra vulgaris, furnishes a colourless sirup, which, when more especially when, in the latter, it was exposed to the sun’s rays, affords crystals aided by the local application of diluted nilike cholesterine. The sulphate of nicotine trated mercurial ointment. I could furnish assumes the form of an amorphous mass your journal with many cases in detail illusslightly acid. Finally, with oxalic acid, ni- trative of the good effects of this remedy, cotine forms a crystalline soluble compound. but as my object in this communication is The nitric acid does not unite with, but to draw the attention of those to it merely nearly effects, the decomposition of, this who may possess more frequent opportunialkaloid. ties of prescribing it than I have, I think The analysis of tobacco by MM. Posselt they will not be disappointed in it, although and Reimann has been crowned by the fa- they may possess other remedies which culty of medicine at Heidelberg.—Abridged either experience or prejudice may not allow them to consider less efficacious.—Feb. 26. from Geige2-’s Magazin fur Pharinacie.
having
(44°
_
fused without any effect.
Iodine
was
vo’a-
ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF tilized, and left no traces. The nitrate of silver fused, and left, after the expulsion of IODINE IN CUTANEOUS DISEASES. its acid, a mark of silver, which was easily By THOMAS JEFFREYS, M.D., Liverpool.
rubbed off. The acetate and nitrate of lead THE singularly good effects of iodine in left a little yellow oxide and metallic lead. The tartrate of antimony and potassa was glandular diseases are now generally known partly carbonized, and the metal was re- and admitted, but I am not aware of its duced. Calomel volatilized, and left no been used internaliy in cutaneous stain. Sulphur and phosphorus melted, and diseases, and as I am inclined to think that burnt away without reacting on the mica in it will be found an efficacious agent in the the slightest degree. These experiments cure of some of them when almost every are amply sufficient to call the attention of other remedy has failed, I beg to communichemists to an auxiliary in analytic re- cate the following remarks on the subject. search, which recommends itself by its ex- About seven years ago the external applica. treme simplicity, its moderate price, and tion of the tincture of iodine was much talkits practical utility.—Arch. de Brandes, ed of, and used by myself and others in vol. xxxiii. cap. 3. p. 265. Liverpool; and, as far as my own opportunities were concerned, with little or no benefit. Having at that. time a case of a NICOTINE THE ALKALOID PRINCIPLE OF very obstinate nature, in which the disease had existed chiefly upon the back of the TOBACCO. hands for several years under the form of MM. Posselt and Reimann have com- psoriasis, I thought it probable that as the pletely succeeded in separating the alkaloid external use of iodine had in some instances principle which Vanquelin believed to exist been successful, it might be worth a trial in tobacco, but which that distinguished given internally. The result was a complete chemist failed to obtain in a separate state. removal of the impetiginous eruption, alThe new substance nicotine, as described though the disease had been distressingly by the present authors, is liquid at 60 cent. troublesome for six or seven years, more or Fahr.) transparent, of a brown-red less. In this instance almost every remedy colour, of a disagreeable, pungent, odour, in ordinary use had been tried in vain ; the like that of dried tobacco, and which is in- Harrogate waters drunk at the well, with creased by an elevation of temperature. the aid of the baths for five weeks, afforded Taste excessively acrid, and remaining long temporary relief but nothing more. I on the tongue. It communicates a greasy began with ten drops twice a day, increasing stain to paper, disappearing in twelve them daily until thirty were taken night and hours ; specific gravity greater than water; morning, for one month after the full dose volatile in the open air, leaving a small re- bad been attained. It may, however, be sinous residuum ; boils at 2460 cent. (4600 worthy of remark, that the unpleasant and Fahr.), burns when touched by a lighted depressing sensation upon the nervous systaper, and at 100° cent. (212° Fahr.) evolves tem was such as almost to deter me from its abundant white vapour. Nicotine is solu- use,-an effect which continued more or less ble in water in all proportions ; the solution for many months, and which was almost as is decidedly alkaline, and, diluted with bad as the disease itself. This inconveni10,000 parts of water, still preserves its ence, however, I am inclined to think, will acrid taste. It is equally soluble in alcohol, be more felt by those who are possessed of ether, and almond oil. The etherial solution nervous irritability, than by the robust. mixed with muriatic, tartaric, or acetic Since the above trial I have prescribed it acids, parts with all its nicotine, and salts, in other cases of psoriasis, and also in the insoluble in ether, are produced. Neutra- differentt varieties of herpes, and with almost lized by phosphoric acid, the new alkaloid never-failing success in lepra vulgaris, furnishes a colourless sirup, which, when more especially when, in the latter, it was exposed to the sun’s rays, affords crystals aided by the local application of diluted nilike cholesterine. The sulphate of nicotine trated mercurial ointment. I could furnish assumes the form of an amorphous mass your journal with many cases in detail illusslightly acid. Finally, with oxalic acid, ni- trative of the good effects of this remedy, cotine forms a crystalline soluble compound. but as my object in this communication is The nitric acid does not unite with, but to draw the attention of those to it merely nearly effects, the decomposition of, this who may possess more frequent opportunialkaloid. ties of prescribing it than I have, I think The analysis of tobacco by MM. Posselt they will not be disappointed in it, although and Reimann has been crowned by the fa- they may possess other remedies which culty of medicine at Heidelberg.—Abridged either experience or prejudice may not allow them to consider less efficacious.—Feb. 26. from Geige2-’s Magazin fur Pharinacie.
having
(44°
_