ON THE ACTION OF IODINE AND CHLORINE. 483 
a chance afforded them of effecting it, the patience of the medical 
attendant, and his employers also, become exhausted. There is 
another cause operating which has its weight. The remedies 
are comparatively new ; and if the sanguine expectations of 
those who use them be not at once and fully realized, they are 
discarded as useless, and perhaps are designated as even worse 
than that; but it should be remembered that, when there has 
existed for a long time functional derangement in a part, a corre- 
sponding length of time is required for its restoration to health. 
The agents now under notice are received as distinct elemen- 
tary bodies ; but in their chemical properties they closely resem- 
ble each other. 
Iodine, viewed as a simple substance, takes the precedence of 
chlorine as an internal remedy. It appears to act as a stimulant 
to the nervous and vascular systems, of which excitement the 
absorbents partake ; and by them it may be said to produce its 
beneficial effects on the system. Sometimes the heart is but 
little affected by it; and yet the arteries of the diseased part take 
on increased action, — I do not mean in number of beats, but in 
tone or power. Particularly is this the case in tumours; and for 
these and other morbid growths it seems to manifest a preference, 
leaving untouched the healthy tissues; still, by its long-con- 
tinued use an emaciation of the whole frame may be brought about; 
and it is recorded that, when injudiciously given, glandular struc- 
tures have become wholly absorbed. Whenever this does take 
place, the progress is rapid ; hence care is called for in its employ- 
ment. 
Chlorine has more commonly been had recourse to as a topical 
application, for the purpose of cleansing unhealthy ulcers, de- 
stroying putrescence in wounds by decomposing the vitiated pus 
thrown out, thus setting limits oftentimes to mortification ; it 
likewise powerfully modifies organic action, and has been know r n 
to suppress long-continued mucous discharges. 
I have thus briefly enumerated some of the leading effects of 
these agents as introductory to the following. Of their com- 
pounds, two only will be here adverted to. 
In 1835, Mr. Salter, V.S. of Eltham, did me the honour of 
asking my opinion respecting a case of suspected glanders, which 
Mr. Winter, V.S: of Blackfriars Road (both being then students 
at the College), had given up to him for experiment, the disease 
being considered by the owner, a medical man, incurable. The 
symptoms described to me were these : — The Schneiderian mem- 
brane on both sides of the septem nasi ulcerated ; the submax- 
illary glands enlarged, particularly that on the near side, which 
was adherent to the jaw-bone ; discharge from the nostrils con- 
