188 Miscellaneous InleUigence, 



In most cases this mode of treatment sufficed alone to remove 

 the tumour ; when it did not, a small quantity administered 

 internally completed the cure. In one case, when the remedy 

 had been applied by the stomach, but only with partial success, 

 external application of it almost entirely removed the goitre. 



Though none of the dangerous symptoms, sometimes attend- 

 ing the former mode of administration had been observed ac- 

 companying the latter treatment, yet Dr. Coindet took all his 

 usual precautions, and when the action on the goitre was well 

 established, suspended the application of iodine for eight or 

 ten days ; it was then resumed, and thus any evil resulting from 

 a saturation of the system with iodine, or a too rapid action on 

 the lymphatics avoided. 



In all these cases the utmost attention was paid to the local 

 treatment of the goitre, inasmuch as it contributes powerfully 

 towards the cure. It consists principally in the application of 

 leeches, and sometimes emollient fomentations. The leeches fre- 

 quently removed pain, and sometimes when iodine alone would 

 not act on the goitre, the application of leeches decided the 

 cure. It is not sufficient, therefore, in cases of the goitre, scro- 

 phula, or other disturbed states of the lymphatic system, to 

 prescribe iodine in a careless or common way, but the other 

 indications must be attended to, to ensure the success to be ex- 

 pected from so powerful a remedy. 



From the power of this remedy on the absorbent system, Dr. 

 Coindet was induced to try its effects in cases of scrophula 

 without fever, or indolent swellings of the glands of the neck, 

 and with great success. It was given in solution, in smaller 

 doses than for the goitre, and combined with bitters or some 

 aromatic syrup. The course of the cure was the same as for 

 the goitre. The tumours became loose, mobile, small, and 

 soft, but the enlargement of the cellular structure feeling like 

 an empty cist, was sometime before it entirely disappeared. 

 In two cases mentioned the cures were decided and rapid. 



The application of the iodine externally in these cases was 

 almost as effectual as internally, but the latter mode was gene- 

 rally preferred, because of the tonic effect of the remedy in 

 small doses. Sometimes iodine would have no effect at all, a 

 result which occurs now and then with the goitre. 



Dr. Coindet, led by the powerful action of this remedy on 

 the absorbent system, then extends his views to some further 

 applications of it. The use of it alternately with mercury, or 

 the iodide of mercury, is proposed in complicated cases of scro- 

 phula and syphilis, and in those cases where the syphilitic 

 virus of the parent causes the devolopement of scrophula in the 

 child. From the analogy existing between diseased ovaries, and 

 the affections of the thyroid glands, the probable use in the for- 

 mer cases is pointed out, and as in some goitres which appeared 



