lODiiTE 245 



starchy material in the towels, the fsecal discharges may 

 lie of a bluish color. Aphrodisiac action has been noted in 

 man, following small doses of iodine. The treatment of 

 acute poisoning is embraced in the use of starch by the 

 mouth, or raw eggs, external heat; strychnine, alcohol, and 

 atropine subcutaneously. Chronic poisoning by iodine and 

 iodides (iodism), in man, commonly causes symptoms 

 analogous to a severe cold in the head, with pain over the 

 frontal sinus, sore throat, running at the eyes and nose, 

 gastric indigestion, together with an acneform, and occasion- 

 ally purpuric, or furuncular eruption. 



These more frequent symptoms of iodism occur more 

 often after the administration of potassium iodide than after 

 that of iodine. The physiological action of the iodides is simi- 

 lar to that of iodine, which is transformed into iodides in the 

 body. But the iodides are usually preferred for internal use 

 since they are locally so much less irritating. Both iodine and 

 potassium iodide are readily 'absorbed from mucous mem- 

 branes, and are found in all the tissues and fluids of the 

 body. Iodine is absorbed as iodides and, perhaps, in loose 

 combination with albumin (iodoalbuminates) — and elimi- 

 nated as iodides by all the usual channels, as well as by the 

 mucous membranes. The kidneys eliminate the greater 

 amount, but iodine is found in the saliva and gastric juice 

 after it has ceased to be present in the urine. The effect of 

 iodine on the thyroid gland probably accounts for much of 

 its influence on the body. Iodine is essential for normal 

 tJiyroid activity. Glandular hyperplasia (simple goitre) is a 

 physiological reaction to a deficiency of iodine. The iodine 

 content of the gland varies inversely with the degree of en- 

 largement. Giving iodine in simple goitre in puppies causes 

 reduction of the glandular hyperplasia. An excess of iodine 

 ingested in goitre will produce the same symptoms (thyro- 

 toxic) as occur in morbid conditions where an excess of 

 thyroid secretion is formed (exophthalmic goitre in man) 

 i. e., rapid heart, tremors, wasting, excitement, etc. 



Uses External. — Todine is of most value applied exter- 

 nally, or locally, while potassium iodide is administered 

 internally because it is not irritating to the digestive organs. 

 Although potassium iodide does not exactly represent the 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



