Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
Mar.,  1882.  / 
Iodine- yielding  Algce. 
125- 
ern  methods  of  iodine  manufacture,  the  data  afforded  by  analyses  long 
since  made  ^pon  the  faulty  system  of  opisn  combustion,  as  the  first 
step  in  the  process,  are  to  be  considered  as  trustworthy  indications  of 
the  amount  contained  in  the  fresh  plants.  Failing,  therefore,  to  obtain 
the  desired  information  from  the  published  analyses  at  his  command,, 
he  was  led  to  make  some  simple  experiments,  which  should  indicate 
approximately  the  relative  yield  by  some  of  the  more  ordinary  species. 
Those  selected  for  the  purpose  being  (1)  Laminaria  flexicaulis,  (2) 
Laminaria  saccharina,  (3)  Fugus  vesiculosus,  (4)  Fucus  nodosus,  (5) 
Fucus  serratus,  (6)  Rhodymenia  palmata,  (7)  Chondrus  crispus,  of 
each  of  which,  sliced  fresh  fronds,  in  the  proportion  of  1  to  8  of 
water,  with  the  exception  of  No.  7,  were  twice  boiled,  until  the  two 
decoctions  when  mixed,  equaled  one-half  the  water  employed.  These, 
when  cold,  were  treated  with  starch  paste,  and  at  regular  intervals 
successive  minute  quantities  of  chlorine,  both  noting  the  intensity  of 
color  produced  and  the  amount  of  reagent  required  to  discharge  the 
colors.  Iodine  reactions  Avere  abundantly  manifested  by  Nos.  1  and 
2,  and  in  much  less  degree  by  No.  4,  all  the  others  affording  but  neg- 
ative results.  Other  decoctions  were  made,  substituting  dry  fronds 
for  fresh,  with  the  result  that  No.  5  afforded  faint  signs  of  iodine. 
Confirmatory  testings  were  made  with  nitrous  acid  and  bisulphide 
of  carbon.  This  may  be  taken  as  the  substance  of  repeated  experi- 
ments, both  with  water  and  proof  spirit  as  the  menstruum.  Of  Fucus 
vesiculosus,  however,  it  should  be  remarked  that  upon  evaporating  off 
the  last  remaining  portion  of  the  menstruum  of  a  proof  spirit  tinc- 
ture, the  residue  afforded  some  slight  indications  of  the  presence  of 
iodine,  and  indeed,  considering  the  universality  of  this  element  in  sea 
water,  readily  evidenced  when  concentrated  to  about  a  seventh  its  bulk, 
it  would  be  difficult  to  conceive  a  truly  marine  algse  failing  to  contain 
it  in  some  minute  proportion.  Nor  is  its  presence  confined  to  plants; 
fishes,  as  is  well  known,  esj^ecially  the  genus  Gadus,  affording  an  oil 
yielding  traces  of  it.  Oysters,  likewise,  have  been  proved  to  contain 
it.  Sponge,  also,  by  virtue  of  it  as  a  constituent,  afforded  a  remedy 
which,  until  Courtois'  discovery,  was  deemed,  to  quote  the  words  of 
an  old  writer,  "  an  effectual  cure  for  bronchocele  and  of  infinite  ser- 
vice in  all  scrophulous  complaints."  Even  quite  lately,  burnt  sponge- 
has  been  prepared  by  some  on  the  continent  as  proving  less  irritant 
than  the  preparations  of  iodine. 
