January 7, 137'.] 
THE FHATiMACEUTECAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
and dried between filter-paper. Reaction (according 1 to 
new nomenclature) :—G(K 2 CO. { ) + 161 + 2 (C 2 H 5 HO). 
Five atoms of oxygen of the carbonate of potash join 
2(C 2 H 5 HO), forming 2(HCH0 2 ) + 3(H 2 0) + 2(CH); 
2(HCH0 2 ) combines with K, 0 = 2 (K C H 0 3 , H 2 O); 
10 K + 101= 10 (KI); while 61 and the 2 (CH) of the 
alcohol form (2CHI 3 ), carbonic acid escaping. 
According to this, the gain of iodoform would be 38 
per cent.; but the reaction never takes place so com¬ 
pletely, and we must remember that all these changes 
take place at once, and that iodoform is very volatile 
(must never bo made in an open vessel); the alcohol eva¬ 
porates, and must be used in larger quantities; the ex¬ 
cess of carb. of potash does not retard, but seems to 
increase the reaction. 
By using six ounces of iodine only one ounce of iodo¬ 
form is collected, or about 17 per cent. It would there¬ 
fore be very expensive if we could not make use of the 
filtrate for making iodide of potassium. This liquid 
contains, besides traces of iodoform, the balance of the 
iodine as iodate of potash and iodide of potassium, and 
also formate and carbonate of potash. 
Evaporate this solution to dryness and triturate with 
one-eighth of its weight of charcoal, and then heat to 
redness for a short time in' an iron crucible, then digest 
in alcohol and filter; the residue is carbonate of potash, 
while the filtered solution contains the iodide of potas¬ 
sium ; the alcoholic solution is evaporated and allowed 
to ciystallize. By this means no iodine is lost, and ter- 
iodide of formyl ought to be not more expensive than 
iodine. 
Iodoform appears in the shape of yellow, shining, six- 
sided scales, with a spicy odour (like saffron or iodine 
and chloroform) ; is volatile at ordinary temperature. 
Almost insoluble in water (one part in 13,000), but more 
soluble in alcohol (one part in 80). If it be used in a mix¬ 
ture, it is necessary to avoid alcoholic solution of potash, 
which decomposes it, forming formate of potash and 
iodide of potassium :— 
CHI 3 + 2(K,0) = ECHO, + 3X1. 
Besides the well-known effects of iodine and its pre¬ 
paration, iodoform has the advantage of the former pre¬ 
paration of being stronger and more uniform in its action 
on the system; that is, does not corrode, nor act as a 
local irritant, and that, therefore, it may be given unin¬ 
terruptedly. It is anodyne, and, consequently, often 
useful in neuralgia; producing also a local and partial 
anaesthesia of the colon. It has less amesthetic powers 
than chloroform, although recommended by Eugenio 
Franchino [Gaz. /Sard. 28, 1858) as a general anaes¬ 
thetic in place of chloroform. First used by English 
physicians in form of ointment for exanthema; used by 
Litchfield in porrigo and lepra; by Glover for psoriasis, 
impetigo, scabies, etc.; also recommended for croup (in¬ 
ternally), and used with good success ( Monthly Journal , 
Feb., 1818). On the recommendation of Moretin and 
Mouzard {l'Union, 1857), used as a local anesthetic, in 
the form of suppositories, in the prostate; it also seems 
to relieve tenesmus, easing defecation. 
Iodoform has lately been prominently brought to the 
notice of physicians in the United States as a remedy for 
chronic ulcers (Proc. Penn. State Med. Soc. 1868), ob¬ 
stinate neuralgia, scrofula, strumous ophthalmia, con¬ 
sumption, and even in cancer is stated to have relieved 
the excruciating pain of this malignant disease, without 
seeming to arrest the same ( Medical and Surgical Reporter , 
Phil., vol. xvi. xvii. xviii.). It is also a valuable dress¬ 
ing in chancre. 
It is best administered in pill form, one to two grains, 
three times a day. Quevenne’s iron may often be ad¬ 
vantageously added. Externally it is used as an oint¬ 
ment, one-half to one drachm of iodoform to one ounce 
ot lard, or it is dissolved in hot alcohol and glycerine 
added; these to be used pro re nata. — Detroit Rev. of 
Medicine. 
APOMORPHIA.* 
Apomorphia, a very curious organic base, was dis¬ 
covered by the late Dr. Matthiessen and Mr. C. M. A. 
Wright, while experimenting in the laboratory of St. 
Bartholomew’s Hospital, in April, and reported on to 
the Clinical Society by Dr. Gee, in May, 1869.f It is 
obtained by submitting the chloride of morphia for several 
hours to the action of strong hydrochloric acid at a high 
temperature. The result is the chloride of apomorphia, 
from which the base may bo obtained without difficulty ; 
but as it is very unstable, the salt has been used. Che¬ 
mically the base, apomorphia, differs from morphia by 
containing the elements of a molecule of water less. Its 
chloride is a white crystalline powder, soluble in thirty 
parts of cold, and in much less of warm water. As a 
medicine it possesses most remarkable emetic powers, 
acting rapidly and certainly. Dr. Gee says, “We have 
never yet failed to produce vomiting when we wished to 
do so, and by a single dose.” The salt is free from all 
local irritant properties, and can therefore be used hypo¬ 
dermically ; its dose is very small—one-fifth of a grain 
by the mouth, or one-tenth of a grain hypodermically, 
acting rapidly and freely; and its action is not accom¬ 
panied or followed by any ill effects. “ The vomiting,” 
Dr. Gee says, “seems, in most cases, to be critical, as it 
were, and put an end to itself; there is no subsequent 
nausea.” 
The only other information on the use of this salt is a 
short communication from Dr. F. M. Pierce, who confirm ; 
Dr. Gee’s statements. He says, “It is the most speedy and 
most certain emetic known—the tenth of a grain of th > 
chloride, or even loss, is the dose required. It may be 
given safely to children, and acts more rapidly when 
| hypodermically administered” than when given by the 
mouth. 
Should it turn out that the drug has no other medi- 
cmal value than as an emetic, it will be a most important 
addition to the materia mcdica. is o other emetic can be 
administered hypodermically; and all others are bulky 
in dose, very uncertain in action, and produce distress¬ 
ing nausea and depression. 
THE KATIPO, OS POISON SPIDES OF NEW 
ZEALAND. 
BY DR. WRIGHT. 
The author, in a paper communicated by him to the 
Medical Times and Gazette, reports the case of a man who, 
while employed in carrying firewood which had been 
stacked in some sedge or coarse grass, was bitten by a 
katipo on the shoulder. Within an hour, upon attempting 
to eat his dinner, he found that he could not open hi i 
mouth, and was scarcely able to articulate in consequence 
of stiffness about the jaws. He immediately applied to 
Dr. Wright for medical assistance, but was scarcely able 
to make himself understood. Upon examination of the 
spot the surface was found to be raised to an extent as 
large round as a teacup. This swelling was white, and 
surrounded by a halo of red not unlike an exaggerated 
wheal of the nettle-rash. He complained of considerable 
pain in the part. During the examination he became 
faint and almost pulseless, his countenance and body 
assumed a hue of extreme pallor, his extremities were 
cold and fiaccid, his respiration almost ceased, and there 
were fears that he was about to expire. Ammonia wa s 
applied to the wound, and ammonia and water combined 
with brandy, in considerable doses, administered ; but it 
was upwards of two hours before the man was sufficiently 
recovered to return home. Several days elapsed before 
I 10 was able to resume work, in consequence of great 
lassitude and nervous depression. 
* Abstracted from a series of papers on the “Progress ot 
Therapeutics,” published in the Medical Times and Gazette. 
j- Transactions of the Clinical Society , vol. ii. 1869, p. 16o. 
