THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
JUNE,  1887. 
BISMUTH  OXYIODIDE. 
A  contribution  from  the  Chemical  Laboratory  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  May  17. 
In  the  March  number  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy, 
I  gave  a  method  for  the  preparation  of  pure  oxyiodide  of  bismuth.. 
The  salt  obtained  presents  a  characteristic  crystalline  appearance,  and 
if  made  from  a  subcarbonate  perfectly  free  from  subnitrate,  is  of  a 
copper-red  color.  The  presence  of  very  small  quantities  of  subnitrate 
gives  a  purplish  tint  to  the  compound,  the  depth  of  which  depends 
upon  the  amount  present. 
My  attention  was  called  to  the  crystalline  structure,  and  it  was 
asserted  that  as  the  preparation  is  used  as  a  local  application  for  dust- 
ing on  sores,  it  is  necessary  to  have  it  in  as  fine  a  state  of  division  as 
possible.  A  specimen  was  shown  me,  made  by  a  large  firm  of  this 
city,  which  was  in  the  condition  of  an  impalpable  powder,  bulky,  and 
of  a  light  brick-red  color.  It  was  stated  to  be  pure  as  found  by 
analysis. 
To  obtain  the  oxyiodide  in  this  condition  I  undertook  new  experi- 
ments. 
Powdering  the  crystalline  salt  resulted  in  yielding  a  yellowish-red 
powder,  dense  and  cakey.  This  is  only  gotten  after  long-continued 
trituration,  and  in  small  quantities. 
Next  were  tried  a  number  of  modifications  of  the  process  published,, 
such  as  using  the  acid  of  various  strengths,  adding  these  to  the  sub- 
carbonate,  &c,  but  they  did  not  give  a  superior  product,  being  crys- 
talline in  every  instance. 
