398 
IODIDE  OF  PROPYLAMINE. 
IODIDE  OF  PROPYLAMINE. 
By  Benjamin  J.  Crew. 
While  the  base  Propylamine  and  its  chloride  are  being  in- 
vestigated medicinally  in  this  country,  in  order  to  verify  or  dis- 
prove the  accounts  received  from  Europe  in  relation  to  their 
asserted  remedial  powers  in  the  cure  of  rheumatism,  it  occurred 
to  the  writer  that  a  combination,  of  this  new  remedy  with  iodine, 
in  the  form  of  an  Iodide  of  Propylamine  might  possess  some 
valuable  medicinal  properties  in  the  same  disease  in  which  iodine 
either  simply  or  in  some  of  its  combinations  has  been  long  em- 
ployed especially,  in  chronic  cases  attended  with  nodular  swell- 
ing. Propylamine  combines  readily  with  the  aid  of  a  gentle 
heat  with  iodine,  and  forms  a  colorless  solution,  in  which  the 
characteristic  odor  of  each  of  these  substances  can  be  perceived. 
It  may  be  prepared  by  adding  iodine  to  a  convenient  quantity 
of  Propylamine  in  a  glass  flask  over  a  sand  bath  as  long  as  the 
iodine  is  taken  up ;  a  deep  red  solution  is  first  formed,  which  as 
the  combination  is  effected  becomes  gradually  colorless;  in  case 
of  an  excess  of  iodine,  a  small  addition  of  Propylamine  will 
speedily  take  it  up.  Its  odor,  as  before  observed,  is  a  combina- 
tion ;  in  taste  it  is  saline,  resembling  closely  iodide  of  potassium, 
and  behaves  with  reagents  like  this  salt,  giving  the  usual  char- 
acteristic precipitates  with  acetate  of  lead,  nitrate  of  silver. 
&c.  It  is  decomposed  by  acids,  liberating  free  iodine, 
which  colors  the  solution  red ;  with  concentrated  oil  of 
vitriol  the  violet  vapors  of  iodine  are  evolved  and  crystallize  on 
the  sides  of  the  test  tube.  It  is  alkaline  to  test  paper,  but  upoc 
exposure,  it  changes  and  gives  an  acid  reaction.  I  have  not 
been  able  to  procure  the  crystals  in  any  appreciable  quantity, 
as  upon  concentration  the  Propylamine  is  volatilized,  and  the 
solution  becomes  red  from  free  iodine. 
Not  having  seen  any  account  of  this  preparation,  it  may  be 
proper  to  suggest  a  formula  for  its  employment,  should  it  be 
deemed  worthy  of  examination  and  trial ;  and  being  in  a  liquid 
form,  a  formula  similar  to  one  published  some  time  since  in  this 
Journal  for  the  use  of  Propylamine  is  proposed. 
