651 
ON THE DIGESTIBILITY OE IODIDE OE STARCH. 
By Dr. Jutte. 
Many physicians, when prescribing preparations of 
iodine, forbid the use of amylaceous food ; acting upon the 
theory, that, from the great affinity of iodine to starch, the 
iodide of starch must be formed, which, as such, would pass 
from the body nndissolved , whereby the action of the medi- 
cine wmuid be weakened or w-holly destroyed . The iodideof 
starch is, however, of so unstable a composition that it is 
easily decomposed, even by the saliva ; the iodine entering 
again into soluble absorbable combinations, can be again re- 
cognised in the urine. In order to prove this, the author 
gave frequently the iodide of starch. It was prepared in 
the following manner : — One ounce of w ? et starch was 
rubbed up with tw r o drachms of tincture of iodine, and the 
mass dried. Of this powder there w r ere taken, three times 
daily, ten grains, corresponding to one quarter of a grain of 
iodine at a dose. The examination of the urine was con- 
ducted in the following manner: — The urine was mixed w r ith 
some pulverized starch in a small proof glass, then a suf- 
ficient quantity of chlorine w^ater w ? as added : the previous 
wffiite fluid became more or less violet-coloured from the 
presence of the iodine ; or a large quantity of urine was 
evaporated to one-tenth of its volume, then a few drops of 
sulphuric acid added, and immediately a paper spread with 
starch paste held over it. In every case, wffien the iodide of 
starch has been taken, the author succeeded in detecting the 
presence of iodine in the urine. Sometimes it was difficult, 
immediately after the first dose of the iodide, to detect the 
iodine, there being but a slight reaction, on account of the 
insufficient sensibility of the reagent, which, however, be- 
comes evident when several doses are given. In such cases, 
one can use the chloride of palladium, wffiich is extremely 
sensitive, and leaves no doubt of the final passage of the 
iodine in the urine. It seems, therefore, unnecessary to 
deny the use of amylaceous food to patients w hile taking 
iodine. — Chemist . 
[Were not the iodide of starch, to some extent at least, 
soluble in the fluids and juices of the stomach and intestines, 
we should be inclined to more than doubt the efficacy of 
many of the compounds of iodine to those of our patients, 
the basis of whose food consists of amylaceous matters, as 
oats, &c.] 
