Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Sept.,  1887. 
Useful  Preparations  of  Iodol. 
461 
solves  it  with  the  production  of  a  brownish-red  color,  and  Frohde's 
reagent  produces  the  same  color  reaction.  Nitric,  hydrochloric  and 
acetic  acids  give  no  distinct  color  reactions.  The  watery  solution  is 
neutral  to  litmus  paper.  Tannic  acid  produces  a  bulky  yellow  pre- 
cipitate soluble  in  excess  of  the  reagent.  Phosphomolybdic  acid,  so- 
lution of  iodine  in  iodide  of  potassium,  platinic  chloride,  iodide  of  bis- 
muth and  potassium,  iodide  of  potassium  and  mercury,  picric  acid, 
acetate  and  basic  acetate  of  lead,  ferric  chloride,  nitrate  of  silver  and 
mercuric  chloride  are  without  visible  effect.  Solutions  of  alkalies 
turned  the  practically  colorless  watery  solution  yellow,  and  the  bitter- 
ness entirely  disappears ;  if  digested  some  time  with  dilute  acids  a 
similar  coloration  and  loss  of  bitterness  occurs,  and  a  similar  result  is 
obtained  on  merely  boiling  for  some  little  time.  In  all  cases  a  yel- 
lowish flocculent  precipitate  separates  out  which  is  tasteless,  and  ap- 
parently without  action.  The  watery  solution  reduces  Fehiing's  solu- 
tion, but  does  not  ferment  with  yeast,  nor  does  any  of  the  solutions 
which  result  from  treatment  of  the  watery  solution  with  an  alkali, 
with  an  acid,  or  with  heat  alone.  No  other  active  body  was  detected 
in  the  fruit.  The  active  substance  is  thus  seen  to  be  apparently  a 
neutral  principle,  which  is  not  a  glucoside,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
usual  nomenclature  might  be  termed  "  myriocarpin." — Phar.  Jour, 
and  Trans.,  July  2,  1887,  p.  1. 
USEFUL  PKEPABATIOXS  OF  IODOL. 
Dr.  Wolfenden,  of  London,  mentions  in  the  Practitioner  for  May, 
1887,  the  following  as  preparations  which  he  has  found  useful : 
1 .  Powder  of  iodol. — The  pure  powder  may  be  used.  There  is  no 
need  to  mix  it  with  starch  or  sugar,  etc.,  since,  being  fine,  it  is  readily 
dusted  over  a  raw  surface,  or  insufflated  into  the  throat.  Possessing 
no  toxic  power,  it  is  of  more  importance  to  cover  the  diseased  surface 
than  to  measure  the  dose.  For  all  laryngeal,  pharyngeal,  and  most 
nasal  and  oral  conditions  this  is,  perhaps,  the  most  generally  useful 
application. 
2.  A  solution  in  alcohol  and  glycerin. — This  was  Mazzoni's  original 
application  :  iodol,  one  part ;  alcohol,  sixteen  parts ;  glycerin,  thirty- 
four  parts.  This  forms  a  good  application  by  means  of  the  brush,  or 
may  be  used  as  a  very  coarse  spray. 
3.  Iodol,  1  drachm;  ether,  1  ounce. — This  forms  a  clear  brown 
