Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1887. 
Bismuth  Subiodide. 
15 
solution,  because  it  will,  thereby,  be  able  to  stand  more  dilution  with- 
out precipitation  of  oxysalt  than  with  cold  water.  The  black  triodide 
is  first  formed,  which,  on  agitating  the  warm  liquid  for  several  min- 
utes, gradually  changes  into  the  red  oxyiodide.  The  bismuth  solution 
is  poured  into  the  iodide,  and  not  the  reverse,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
formation  of  oxynitrate.  Hot  water  is  used  to  precipitate  the  bismuth 
salt  in,  because  it  greatly  facilitates  and  hastens  the  conversion  of  the 
black  iodide  into  the  red  oxysalt.  Yet,  at  the  same  time,  care  must  be 
exercised  that  the  liquid  be  not  too  hot  when  added  together,  otherwise 
the  strong  nitric  acid  will  cause  the  decomposition  of  a  portion  of  the 
oxyiodide  with  the  formation  of  iodine  fumes  and  the  consequent  weak- 
ening of  the  product  in  the  amount  of  its  combined  iodine.  The  chemi- 
cal reactions  in  the  making  and  the  properties  of  the  finished  product, 
are  identical  with  those  of  the  "  trituration  process."  The  yield  is 
about  the  same. 
Samples  of  the  several  products,  as  obtained  in  the  course  of  experi- 
ments, are  here  presented  for  your  inspection  and  criticism.  No.  1 
is  impure  black  triodide,  made  by  triturating  bismuth  subnitrate  with 
strong  potassium  iodide  solution,  adding  strong  hydrochloric  acid  and 
filtering,  without  washing,  and  drying.  It  is  of  a  deep  bluish-black 
color,  which  assumes  a  much  lighter  shade,  when  long  triturated  with 
cold  water,  from  the  gradual  formation  of  a  portion  of  oxysalt,  and 
speedily  changes  into  the  red  oxyiodide  if  triturated  with  boiling  water. 
No.  2  is  the  so-called  yellow  iodide,  made  with  bismuth  subnitrate  and 
potassium  iodide  in  the  presence  of  cold  water.  No.  3  is  the  same  as 
No.  2,  only  made  by  boiling  the  two  salts  together,  in  water.  No.  4 
is  the  subiodide,  so-called,  made  with  Lugol's  solution  of  iodine „ 
No.  5  is  pure  subiodide  purchased.  No.  6  is  pure  subiodide  made  by 
trituration,  in  accordance  with  the  first  process.  No.  7  was  made  by 
precipitation,  in  compliance  with  the  second  formula;  and  No.  8  was 
made  by  the  formula  of  Mr.  Mayo,  given  in  Amer.  Jourx.  of 
Pharm.,  December,  L886,  p.  590.  It  contains  considerable  oxychlo- 
ride  as  impurity. 
Poisoning'  by  Squill.— Several  fatal  cases  of  poisoning  by  squill  are 
reported  by  Dr.  E.  B.  Truman,  (Lancet,  Sept.  4,  1886),  who  owing  to  the  variable 
composition  of  squill,  regards  it  as  an  unreliable  and  unsafe  drug. 
