The New York herald., 1863-12-11
TO THE PRACTITIONER

TO THE PRACTITIONER
we would cay, the uniform strength Of Iodine Wa
ter may be relied upon as containing 2. grains
Iodine in each fluid ounce of pure water. 1t is
not liable 10 decomposition nor spontaneously
formed inequalities neither is the Iodine neutral
lied by combination with any ingredient. The
dose may be regulated according to desire, with
the certainty Of socb results as he may anticipate
while no unpleasant or injurious consequences
viii arise from its continued use, rendering this
solution superior TO any other method IN which
Iodine can be exhibited.
Ever since Iodine was first used in medicine the
aim Of chemists and physicians has been TO intro
duee it IN jts pure state into the system; bot on
account Of i,s insolubty in water trequring
1000 times ts own weight of water to dissolve t)
il has been prescribed in compound form, ren
derng il impossible 10 regulate the dose, OR an
tioipate its effects upon the system. In 1864 Dr.
Henry AndeIs (the senior partner Of our firm, and
q member Of the medical Faculty of this city,,
after fifteen years Of labor and experiment, dis.
covered o chemical process which enabled him 10
dissolve Iodine in pure water, without a solvent
This, considered impossible by the scientific
world, 10 attestsd by certificates Of analysis from
DR.. James R. Chiffon, Of this city, and Professor
J. c. Booth, United States Mint, Philadelphia and
She Importance Of this discovery was go highly
appreciated by the Faculty that it was published
in the medical journals and recommended 10 prac-
titiOners. (See below.
The action Of Iodine upon the HUMAN system
has engaged the attention Of come Of the most
| scientific minds Of the age, and the amount of
ability, zeal, and assiduity which bas been devot
ed to the cucidatop Of its effects has not been ex.
ceeded ID The instance Of any other article in
Aoteria Medie0. Yet 10 the general reader very
little is known Of this peculiar substance.
That the public may be enlightened as to the
nature and uses Of Iodine and be led to appreciate
the benefit TO be derived from this discovery, an
outline Of jts history ie herewith subjoined.
Iodine js a non metallic, elementary body. It
exists in certain marine vegetables particularly
the fuci, or common seaweed; in some fresh
water plants, among which are the watercress
brooklime, and ine-leaved water-hcmlock; in the
animal kingdom in the sponge, oyster, various
pOlypi, etc. 1t 10 also found in the mineral
kingdom, 10 certain salt springs, in rare Mex
can mineral combined with silver, and in the
sine ore Of 6nesia; also in various mineral springs
IN this country and in Europe highly esteemed for
Abnip mad n.r ma ho
| saio M"t oil tho benefit derived from drinking the
water Of the Congress and Saratoga waters, the
saltz OF Piedmont, Kings Well at Bath, &C., is
owing TO the Iodine which they contain.
| The various species Of fttcsss and ulra thrown
| by the waves Of the Atlantic ocean on the coasts
OF Scotland (the Hebrides and Orkney lslands),
Ireland, Guernsey and Brittany contain the largest
quantities OF this valuable cement-the richest
weed yielding from eight 10 fourteen pounds per
ton, while the poorest realize no more than four
or five pounds in the same amount. These sea
/ weeds having been gathered are burned at low
temperature, producing dark colored vtreous
mass called KEEP from which the rough iodine OF
commerce is obtained This, having undergone
the process Of resublmation, produces iodine
chemically pure, and is the article we use.
Iodine was accidentally discovered in the year
| 1872 during chemical experiment by Courtois
| q soda manufacturer Of Paris. Its chemical pro.
pertles were examined with much care by Gay
Lussac and Sir Humphrey Dayy Iodine is solid
Of the ordinary temperature Of a ioliated appear
ance, Of q buishback color. rs specific gravity
| is 4.94C. lt has peculiar penetrating odor some.
what similar 20 that Of chlorine. Il possesses in a
high degree electromagnetic properties II fuses
at 226 degrees Farenheit, ard bois AZ 3i7 de-
grces eyaporates. II moisture is present, at ord
nary temperatures, and az a moderate heat flies
oG IN beautiful violet coored yapor, whence It's
name IRON the Greek word which heads This ar
tcle
Iodine, besides being employed IN the arts and
for philosophical illustrations for dye cments,
6c., j. also used as one Of the most pc articles
in Mator,d Nsdicd by the medica, tculty in
every quarter OF the globe.
Iodine was frst employed in mediciin in conse.
queuce Of an idea which, about the year 1870,
suggested tself TO DR.. Coindet, Of GO va, that
the ashce Of the T4cuS cesictl,S 1d burnt
sponge Oong celebrated. for the cure a. scroiulous
afectons) might owe their specific virtues TO the
| possession Of this Ingredient. This supposition
very soon received ample yerication a, the hands
| Of DR.. Fyfe and others from the successful trials
that were made with Iodine, thus Offering n
| splendid example Of he reaction Of prrc
science upon the physical necessities Of the human
/ race
On LOOKING tack into The medicinal History Of
| burnt sponge, We find that It was applied to the
1 treatment Of scrofula a. very early date. We
may gather fom Dioscorides and Plny that they
| believed u beneficial in affections Of this class
barccllus also accords HE testimony 10 its utility
| IN puruloni expectorations. The more definite
statements Of modern authors, however, give us
really 70 understand that burnt sponge is far
/ from owing all 90 virtues 20 She Imagination an
idea which the character % the early writings
| would be apt 90 inspire.
From thc Thirteenth century down 70 the era Of
Coindeis discovery, its name burnt sponge)
seems 20 have oeen associated with esroiulous al.
| feniLnna ~ tLn n.-A ~. 49, IL IL.