246 INOKGANTC AGENTS 



action of iodine, yet it is nsnally preferable for the reason 

 just stated. Potassium iodide renders iodine soluble and 

 prevents its precipitation in fluids within and without the 

 body; it is therefore combined with iodine, when concen- 

 trated solutions are desirable. Six parts of potassium iodide 

 and twelve parts of iodine are added to one hundred parts 

 of water, or ointment, to make a suitable counter-irritant 

 preparation for the horse. A useful tincture for veterinary 

 purposes contains 15 parts of iodine and 18 parts of potas- 

 sium iodide in 100 parts of alcohol. Iodine is employed in 

 aqueous and alcoholic solution, or in ointment, as above, 

 either painted upon or rubbed into the skin over enlarged 

 glands, rheumatic swellings about the joints, or upon the 

 chest in chronic pleuritis. It is also of value in strains, 

 bruises, periostal inflammation and muscular rheumatism. 

 In the horse, severe sprains and inflammation of joints, 

 bones, and periosteum are treated more satisfactorily by 

 blistering agents. Iodine is a valuable disinfectant and 

 parasiticide, with equal parts of alcohol in alopecia areata, 

 and particularly in ringworm and favus in dogs, when the 

 tincture is applied locally. Iodine is applied externally, in 

 the form of the tincture, on patches of chronic mange, 

 eczema, and psoriasis. 



Iodine is often recommended for erysipelas, but is in- 

 ferior to ichthyol for this purpose. Iodine is injected into 

 joints, synovial sacs, abscesses, and cavities of the body, to 

 promote healing through its antiseptic and irritant action ; 

 to cause adhesive inflammation, and in this manner to close 

 cavities and to prevent the accumulation of fluids in them. 

 The official tincture ( 3 i.-ii.) is commonly used for injections. 



The tincture of iodine may be injected undiluted directly 

 into the substance of enlarged glands,* in amounts varying 

 from 15 to 30 drops, to assist their absorption. If the tinc- 

 ture is injected into the subcutaneous tissue, abscess may 

 ensue. Ozcena may be treated to advantage by irrigation 

 with a solution containing one drachm of the tincture of 

 iodine to the pint of normal salt solution. In inflammation 

 of the upper air passages, iodine is sometimes beneficial as 



* In goitre in dogs, calvea and lambs, injections of tincture of iodine ("Ix.) 

 may be made every other day for 10 to 20 times — if painting on the tincture extern- 

 ally and potassium iodide or dessicated thyroid glands (gr. lii. in capsules thrice 

 daily) internally are unsuccessful. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



