THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
APRIL,  1889. 
BISMUTHYL  IODIDE. 
Comparative  Value  of  Methods  Proposed  Heretofore, 
with  an  Improved  Method  foe  its  Preparation.1 
By  Chakles  E.  Greene. 
Bisinuthyl  iodide  was  introduced  into  hospital  practice  in  Xew 
York  bv  Dr.  A.  Sidney  Reynolds,  about  ten  or  twelve  years  ago 
under  the  name  of  "  Bismuth-subiodide  or  oxyiodide."  It  was  used  for 
the  local  treatment  of  chronic  ulcers,  syphilitic  sores,  eruptions,  etc., 
etc.  It  was  said  to  be  more  efficient  than  iodoform,  with  none  of  the 
saffron-like  and  almost  intolerable  odor,  so  characteristic  of  the  latter. 
Dr.  Reynolds  also  claims  that  it  will  "control  inflammation,  allav 
irritation,  suppress  suppuration,  promote  granulation  and  induce  cica- 
trization and  that  it  is  "  almost  a  specific  in  gonorrhoea,  and  general 
mucous  inflammations/*'  etc.  Internally  it  is  strongly  recommended 
in  gastric  ulcers,  gastritis,  and  typhoid  fever. 
The  objects  had  in  view  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work  as  pre- 
sented by  this  paper  were,  first,  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  true  BiOI  in 
the  commercial  article  sold  by  the  name  "  Subiodide  of  Bismuth ; " 
second,  to  test  the  various  methods  proposed  for  the  manufacture  of 
the  compound,  and  also  to  ascertain  the  percentage  found  in  the  pro- 
ducts obtained  by  these  methods  ;  and  third,  to  devise,  if  possible,  a 
new  method  for  its  preparation  that  would  yield  a  better  result  than 
any  as  yet  known  to  myself. 
The  information  which  I  was  able  to  obtain,  both  as  to  the  effect 
aud  as  to  a  satisfactory  mode  of  preparing  bismuthyl  iodide,  was  not 
1  From  an  inaugural  essay  presented  to  the  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy, 
18S9. 
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