Presence of Iodine in Sarsaparilla. By M. A. Guilliermond, Apothecary. 
— The experiments upon the presence of iodine in sundry plants, as recently 
published by Prof. Chatin, have induced me to inquire whether sarsaparilla 
did not owe its anti-syphilitic qualities to the presence of this substance 
among its constituents. The peculiar odor of the decoction, also, having 
frequently struck me, I conceived the idea, which has been confirmed by 
chemical analysis. My mode of procedure was as follows: 
Five hundred grammes of Honduras sarsaparilla were incinerated and 
washed with water, which liquid was then evaporated to dryness, giving an 
alkaline product which was digested in alcohol. Upon the application of 
the usual tests for iodine, its presence, in considerable quantity in the state 
of iodide of potassium was evident. I found no iodine in the root, after it 
had been exhausted with water, although I found it present in the extract; 
thus proving that it passes into the aqueous preparations of sarsaparilla in 
the state of a soluble salt. 
It is reasonable to suppose that these results are not unimportant in a 
therapeutic point of view. They confirm the opinion offered by M. Chatin 
upon the presence of iodine in plants employed as anti-scrofulous remedies. 
This fact being acknowledged it would prove interesting to ascertain the 
connection existing between the amount of iodine contained in these plants, 
and the greater or less activity attributed to them. Sarsaparilla may yet 
become a valuable auxiliary, and in certain cases even a succedaneum of 
iodide of potassium. — L'Abeille Medicate, January 15th, 1851, from Gazette 
Medicate de Lyons. 
Conia, Sulphate of Cadmium, &c., in certain Ophthalmic Affections. — 
We find in the oculistic annals some new formulae, by Dr. Fronmuller 
Conia, the active principle of cicuta {conium maculatum,) has, according 
to the author, given some surprising results. He employs it in scrofulous 
ophthalmia, accompanied by " blepharospasmes" and intolerance of light, 
and recommends the following recipe : 
Take of Conia 20 centigrammes, (2 parts) 
Distilled Water 20 grammes, (200 << ) 
Alcohol 13 decigrammes, (13 " ) 
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