IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INHALING IODINE
Year: 1852

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th November 1852.-A communication.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within the
time prescribed by the. Act.)
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street,
Holborn, in the City of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
INHALING IODINE" to be as follows:-
a, b, c, d, e, Fig. 1, is a curved inhaling tube; the two extremities
a, e, of this tube are open, and freely admit air into the interior of the
apparatus. The part e, is made funnel shape, in order to apply the
lips more conveniently to it; the object of the bulb is to retain the
particles of solid iodine, which, if inhaled too strongly, would become
detached and carried back into the throat, where the iodine ought
only to come in the state of vapour. By means of the curve d, the
apparatus could be fixed when not in use. Towards the centre of
the lower bend b, a gauge pipe f, i, b, is soldered: this tube is intended
to receive iodine previously moulded in small cylinders of a certain
weight. The opening of the gauge tube is closed by an air-tight

page_text: stopper f. A scale is engraved on the glass of the tube, as seen in
Fig. 1, bis. Each division of this scale corresponds to a precise
quantity of iodine, (a centigramme, for instance). To effect this
division on the tube is drawn the width of a cylinder of iodine, of
homogeneous density, weighing a certain number of centigrammes.
The space comprised is then subdivided into as many equal parts as
there are units required, consequently each division represents a
certain weight, according to the division effected. When the
cylinders of iodine are arranged in the gauge tube f, i, b, whose
opening is exactly closed by the stopper, if the lips be applied to e,
and a suction made with the mouth, the air circulating through the
inhaling tube turns into vapour the lower part of the small cylinder,
which, undermined at its base, descends in proportion as new parts
are subtracted from it. This evaporation of the iodine in the air is
still more rapid if the lower part of the apparatus be warmed with
the hand or otherwise. The scale traced upon the glass makes it
convenient to measure at any moment the space occupied by the
iodine, and thereby to ascertain the quantity absorbed. When it is
required to introduce into the lungs or other organs air or other
gases much charged with iodine vapour, the apparatus No. 2, is
used; and, instead of being warmed with the hand or otherwise, the
iodine is kept at the temperature of the circulating air; but care is
taken to warm the air intended to convey it.
This inhaling apparatus is composed,
First, of the space D, whose capillary tube I, receives the iodine
in small cylinders, which are made to move by means of a platinum
piston J. This capillary tube bears a graduated scale, whose starting
point is indicated at its upper part by a circular line. The middle
part of this space receives a curved stem K, of glass or any other
unalterable material, by which the vapour of iodine is exhausted.
The opening of this space is closed by an-air tight tube N, M, ter-
minating in a point at M, and funnel shaped at N. The point M,
is intended to direct the air to the higher part of the iodine. The
funnel or opening receives a stopper or cock 7, to which is fitted a
curved tube at right angles, 1, 7. The horizontal part of this tube

page_text: is covered with a metallic substance E, f, throughout the whole space
submitted to the action of the flame, in order to preserve the glass
and diffuse the temperature.
2nd, of a spirit lamp, which is composed, first, of the space A,
which receives the spirit; second, with a cap G, air tight to prevent
the evaporation of the liquid, when the apparatus is not to be used;
third, of a glass wick holder G; fourth, laterally, is a metallic arm
H, at the extremity of which is a collar S, disposed in such a
manner as to maintain the inhaling apparatus in a convenient
position; fifth, of a metallic stem B, which on one part supports
all these pieces, and is screwed to a metal stand C'. By means of
this disposition the air enters by the orifice l, and is raised to a high
temperature in passing through the space E, f, and in this state it
is charged with a greater quantity of iodine in the state of
vapour.
The iodine is preserved in cylinders in small tubes Fig. 5, fixed by
one end to the lamp and at the other by an air-tight stopper. To
construct this flask tubes are used whose smallest diameter is such
as to allow the cylinders to slide easily without shaking, which
preserves them from injury. These tubes or flasks have another
advantage, that of permitting the introduction of the iodine into the
apparatus with the greatest facility, merely by opening each ap-
paratus, and placing the orifice of the flask in such a manner that
by a slight inclination the cylinder will slide into the space reserved
for it.
These first two forms of apparatus which are described are in-
tended in case one has at disposal iodine weighed and moulded by
the process hereafter described. Figs. 3 & 4, represent apparatus
by which, with common iodine, the quantity absorbed may be known
by observing the decrease of the weight. This apparatus is represented
the full size. It is composed principally of a sinall measure very
susceptible, indicating immediately the quantity of iodine which it
contains. The tapering extremity of the tube C, terminates by a
small opening o, permitting only the passage of the rod k, to which
is suspended, by the hook m, the basket n, which receives the iodine,

page_text: At the upper part of the rod is a slender disc h, sustained by a spiral
spring fixed to the stopper d. This disc may pass successively through
the divisions of a scale traced on the tube, so that each degree shall
represent a certain quantity of iodine deposited in the basket. This
disc also serves to arrest the vapours which, instead of following the
inhaling tube, may have entered the body of the measure and not
have been absorbed by the tube i, which is made particularly sus-
ceptible to the action of the iodine, in order to absorb the fleeting
vapours. The openings in the basket should be small enough to
retain common iodine, and numerous enough to allow free passage
to the air. In this apparatus the draught is made from below, and
the section of the inhaling tube smaller than the total of space
allowed by the holes in the basket, for the double purpose of prevent-
ing the obstructions of the holes and the rising even of the basket
itself in case of a too strong inhalation being made.
If when breathing the vapours of iodine it be found inconvenient
to work the measurer, the contrivance as in Fig. 4, may be used.
A, represents the space in which is placed the basket, after having
charged it with a certain quantity of iodine. When the iodine has
been inhaled a certain time, to ascertain the quantity absorbed place
the different parts of the iodinometer on the support P; the stopper
K, is taken out, and the basket drawn from the tube A', to hang it
on the hook B'. By subtracting this new weight from the first,
weight, the difference indicates the quantity of iodine absorb'd. This
is effected instantly, and with the greatest case, by means of the
sinall hooked spoon, represented in Fig. 6.
To cause iodine to penetrate into the system, it is sometimes
necessary or more convenient to have it injected or insufflated
instead of inhaled. For this the same means are employed, and the
same apparatus; only care must be taken to construct the branches
of the apparatus serving for the emission and admission of the air
in such manner that, if necessary, an adjusting vapour conducting
pipe may be added on one of the sides, and on the other a reservoir
of air or other gas (an india-rubber bottle, for instance). In such
case, instead of warming the iodinometer by the hand, it is better

page_text: to use a bath of warm water, into which a part of the apparatus is
to be plunged. To mould exactly the iodine, the handling of which
is extremely difficult, the following process may be employed. The
iodine made use of must be very pure, perfectly dry, and reduced
to powder. The utensils and apparatus which co-operate in the
moulding should be made of platinum, glass, or crystal, or any other
solid substance which is not attacked by iodine. During the time
of pulverization, of sifting and moulding, the operator should be
sheltered from the vapours of the iodine, and the iodine should not
be exposed to the action of damp air, nor to a very high temperature.
The temperature which surrounds melting ice is very suitable for
moulding iodine. The iodine should be pounded in a mortar made
of porcelain, fixed in a glass covering, closed at its upper and la-
teral parts by a supple and impenetrable band which permits the
handling of the pestle, with a sieve and a bottle herinetically corked,
without giving access to the surrounding air. The transparent
sides of the covering enable the operation to be carried on conveni-
ently. Before commencing pulverization, for greater safety take
the precaution of surrounding the mortar with chloride of calcium,
or any other drying substance. When the iodine is pulverized
fill the flask and cork it immediately. The apparatus for moulding
the iodine is composed of a transparent vessel easily opened and
closed; this vessel communicates with numerous holes made in a
piece of platinum. At the lower part these holes are closed with a
platinum rod, which can be fixed or moved at will, and which acts
as a breech. At the upper part these holes receive another rod,
acting as a piston, which serves to compress the matter, and causes
it to be emitted when it is moulded, and the breech is again rendered
moveable. Precaution is taken to calculate the section of the cylin-
ders in order that the weights of the compressed iodine, by an equal
force, may always be proportionate to the length. This gives the
means of always having at disposal iodine ready weighed and of
various and determinate weights. When the iodine is placed in the
moulding apparatus, by inclining it suitably (with the assistance of
slight shaking) the holes are filled; in inclining in a contrary

page_text: manner the excess of iodine is thrown out. Lower the compressing
pistons, and finish by pressing the cylinders into the flasks by which
they are preserved.