176 Intelligence and Miscellanies. 



7. Use of iodine in gout and angina pectoris ; extract of 

 a letter to the Editor from Dr. B. L. Oliver^ dated ISaleni, 

 Mass. Feb. 4, 1829. — You have kindly inquired concerning 

 my health. I have now the pleasure of stating to you, that 

 the alarming symptoms of angina pectoris, which I have had 

 for several years past, and which were relieved and kept at 

 bay, by the use of a solution of the oxy-muriate of mercury, 

 seem entirely to have yielded to the power of iodine. I took 

 the medicine, dissolved in alcohol, of the strength of twenty 

 grains to the ounce, thrice in the day ; beginning with six 

 drops, and gradually increasmg it to sixteen or twenty. I think 

 that I derived as much benefit from the iodine in a fortnight, 

 as 1 had from the solution of sublimate* in eleven months, and 

 indeed I may say much more. I have never heard of the ad- 

 ministration of iodine, in angina pectoris, until my trial of it. 

 The circumstance which induced me to try it was, that 1 had 

 seen a patient in this town, under the care of Dr. Choat, who 

 had been cured of a fit of the gout by iodine, and had read, 

 that a physician in Europe had, by the same agent, cured sev- 

 eral patients suffering under the above malady. I therefore 

 thought it not improbable, that when angina pectoris occur- 

 red m a gouty subject, it might yield to the same medicine. 

 My father and great grandfather, were subject to gout ; and 

 it is not improbable that I may have a gouty habit. I have 

 not, however, had any regular fits of the disease, but it may 

 perhaps have been a cause of the angina pectoris, under 

 which I have suffered for years. I think that I have known 

 several patients that did not complain more than I have 

 done, that have died very suddenly. They have generally 

 been persons that thought the complaint so slight as not to 

 require the taking of medicines, or putting themselves under 

 medical care.t 



* The solution of corrosive sublimate in this disease, was first recommended 

 by Dr. Fisher, of Beverly, (Mass.) vrho has «ured several patients with it. 



t Besides my own case, I know of two other cases which have been relieved, 

 and the disease at least suspended by the iodine. I am not ignorant that the 

 angina pectoris has been cured by several other remedies, as by issues recom- 

 mended by Dr. McBride, by nitrate of silver, by the arsenical solution, by 

 sulphate of zinc, by the application of a solution of tartar emetic, (Mem. in 

 the Memoirs of the London Medical Society,) and in our own country by Dr. 

 Hosack, by bleeding and evacuations. But perhaps they have all sometimes 

 failed ; hence the use of a new remedy. Sometimes the disease may arise, no 

 doubt, from such organic affections as will admit of no remedy, and of course 

 must be mortal. 



