236 INORGANIC AGENTS 



to observe a case of fatal poisoning following abdominal 

 section and packing of the pelvic cavity with iodoform 

 gauze. 



Symptoms of gastro-intestinal irritation are seen in 

 poisoning in dogs, as vomiting and diarrhoea, together with 

 nervous symptoms, as convulsions, stupor and sleep. The 

 pulse may be very rapid or infrequent ; the temperature 

 high or normal. Iodine is eliminated in the urine in iodo- 

 form poisoning and can easily be discovered by the starch 

 test. General fatty degeneration of the internal organs is 

 found after death. The local dessicant effect of iodoform 

 on raw surfaces assists the antiseptic action, and the local 

 anaesthetic properties combine to make iodoform the best 

 antiseptic powder we possess, barring the odor. 



Action Internal. — The internal action of iodoform pos- 

 sesses no therapeutic value. Care must be observed to 

 prevent animals licking off iodoform from the surface of the 

 body. One drachm will poison a dog weighing ten pounds. 



Elimination. — Iodoform is eliminated in the form of 

 iodine, iodates, and iodides, by all the secretions. 



Uses External. — Iodoform is chiefly of value applied 

 over suppurating and septic surfaces, sores, and ulcers, 

 where it hinders the growth of bacteria, stimulates un- 

 healthy granulations, relieves pain, possibly neutralizes 

 toxins, and certainly produces a vile odor. For this reason 

 one of its substitutes should be employed when an antisep- 

 tic powder is desirable for use upon dogs living in or about 

 dwellings. Iodoform is commonly employed in its purity. 

 It may be mixed in any proportion with boric acid, or with 

 tannic acid (1-8), for its astringent effect. Combined with 

 collodion (1-15), it forms a useful dressing for sealing small 

 wounds or abrasions upon the hands. The anaesthetic 

 action of iodoform is taken advantage of to relieve pain in 

 fissure of the rectum, and haemorrhoids. Zuill recommends 

 the following combination by insufflation in the early stages 

 of inflammation of the frontal sinuses : 



Iodoform, Magnesia, Silver Nitrate— equal parts. 



