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MISCELLANY. 355 
the solutions, disengages more or less hydriodic acid. The same effects 
take place with hydratic ether. The capacity of saturation of hydriodic 
acid for quinia appears to me extremely weak. 
Note upon the foregoing^ by M. Cherau. 
The remarks made by M. Righini, are based upon the observation made 
by Dr. Inglis, that when neutral hydriodate of potassa is brought into 
contact with sulphate of quinia, reaction takes place. Without searching 
into the nature of this reaction, it is to be observed, that it was noticed 
in France, both by M. Reignier, pharmacien at Collet, Allier, and by 
M. Pelletier, who has published a memoir upon the action of iodine 
and its acids upon organic bases. fSee Journal de V Institute 1835, 
No. 147. J The work of M. Reignier, which has not been printed, was 
addressed to M. d'Arcet in 1836, with a specimen of the product. But 
this work was forgotten. See what M. Reignier has written upon the 
subject. 
Note upon Iodide of Quinia. 
At the commencement of 1835, in making a solution of sulphate of quinia 
in a porcelain mortar, which had contained hydriodate of potassa, I per- 
ceived that an abundant yellow precipitate was formed. I was at no loss 
to conjecture what had caused this precipitate, and repeated the operation 
by taking eight grammes of hydriodate of potassa, dissolved in thirty- 
two grammes of distilled water, slightly acidulated, and mixing the two 
liquids, I obtained the same yellow precipitate, which I presumed to be 
the iodate of quinia; but I was, at a later period, convinced that the salts 
of iodine, when acted upon by acids, lose their action by giving off iodine. 
This precipitate being obtained, it is important to know the most pro- 
minent characters. These are the result of my researches: 
The precipitate, placed to drain upon the paper filter, rapidly passed 
to red, then to a reddish brown ; treated by alcohol at 36°, it was entirely 
dissolved; submitted to evaporation and crystallization, there were formed 
in a few hours transparent crystals, of a beautiful yellow colour. 
These crystals are quadrangular silky prisms. Exposed to the air, 
these crystals soon lose their transparency, and finally become reddish 
yellow. 
The iodide of quinia appears to be not only a salt of an organic basis, 
increasing the number of those made known to us daily, but also a me- 
dicinal agent of considerable power in scrofulous diseases, and in the 
treatment of certain tumours where iodine and the bitters are administered 
in concert. Already several physicians have commenced to employ it. 
It is probable that they will derive beneficial results from it in practice. 
Journal de Cheniie Medicale, 
