426 IODOFORM 



for surgical uses because of its caustic alkalinity. Solveol 

 is nearly odourless, and miscible with water in all pro- 

 portions, forming a solution which is free from the greasiness 

 of lysol and creolin. As a germicide, an aqueous solution 

 of one part in two hundred, is stated to be equal to a 2 per 

 cent, solution of carbolic acid (Coblentz). 



IODOFORM 



IODOFORMUM. Tri-iodomethane. A product of the action 

 of iodine on ethylic alcohol in the presence of solution 

 of potassium carbonate. CHI 3 (B.P.). 



It occurs in shining, lemon yellow, hexagonal crystals ; 

 is volatile, has a persistent, disagreeable odour and taste ; 

 is very slightly soluble in cold water, but is soluble in 10 

 of ether, 12 chloroform, 95 rectified spirit, 10 collodion, 

 60 vaseline, 14 eucalyptus oil, and in glycerin, fixed and 

 volatile oils. 



ACTIONS AND USES. It contains 96 per cent, of iodine 

 with which it readily parts, exerting antiseptic and parasiti- 

 cide actions. It has only a very limited power of destroy- 

 ing bacteria which grow and multiply on media charged 

 with the drug. It, however, diminishes the virulence of 

 micro-organisms by acting on their products which, accord- 

 ing to Lister, it chemically alters or destroys. Local 

 suppuration invariably produced by subcutaneous injection 

 of cadaverin does not occur when iodoform is added to this 

 toxin. Behring found that cultures of pyogenic organisms 

 injected into the peritoneum caused death in twenty-four 

 hours, but had no effect when the culture was mixed with 

 a little iodoform. Although proved to be a feeble germicide, 

 iodoform has rendered excellent service in clinical practice. 

 It is not so irritant as iodine. It resembles chloroform and 

 bromoform, and, like them, is a local anaesthetic. Applied 

 to a wound it remains long unconsumed ; and under the 

 combined influence of heat, moisture, and fat it is slowly 

 dissolved and decomposed with liberation of free iodine 

 upon which its antiseptic power probably depends. 



It has little effect on the unbroken skin, but slightly 



