204 
ON IMPORTATIONS OF IODINE. 
It was not long before the manufacturing chemists of France 
succeeded in preparing an article perfectly free from water ; 
and during a year of considerable scarcity in the production 
of iodine in that country its ports were thrown open to the 
admission of the British article ; which was re-sublimed and 
much of it re-exported to the country of its origin. The 
French iodine thus acquired a reputation for purity, which 
has since been uniformly sustained ; although the present 
English re-sublimed, is in no respect inferior. There is a 
slight difference between them in the shade of color and 
general appearance of the crystals, which is readily recog- 
nised by those accustomed to their peculiarities; though no 
appreciable difference is presented by a chemical examina- 
tion. The distinction is probably produced by a difference 
in the material of the retorts from which the iodine is evolved, 
and possibly by a trace of sulphur in the British article (too 
small to be indicated by ordinary tests,) — derived from 
the sulphuric acid with which it is prepared ; — the French 
being as is believed, prepared with muriatic acid. 
The application of our drug law has been spoken of as 
having occasionally received a somewhat rigid construction, 
and as having acted oppressively in particular instances, on 
the honest importer. However this may be, there can be but 
one opinion as to the general benefit of the regulation, and it 
is believed that our leading importers themselves would be 
among the last to wish the law revoked. The community 
has been protected — at least from foreign adulterations, and 
there can be no doubt that the general character of our drugs 
has greatly improved within the last two years. Importers 
have been rendered far more cautious in the quality of chemi- 
cals ordered from abroad, and whenever inferior articles have 
been presented, which has been of comparatively rare occur- 
rence, they have been promptly rejected. If any relaxation 
of the standard of commercial iodine should be found desira- 
ble, such a degree of purity will doubtless be ultimately 
adopted as an enlarged and liberal view shall show to be 
most conducive to the interests of all. 
