Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/340

 328 IODINE IONA cent, of iodine. Iodine and many of its com- pounds are absorbed with considerable rapidity from the stomach, and reappear in the excre- tions, especially the urine, in a short time. It has also been found in the saliva and milk ; this is particularly true of the iodide of potas- sium. It remains but a short time in the system. Iodine itself is an irritant, and is used to produce counter-irritation. If taken in considerable quantities internally, it becomes a poison by exciting inflammation of the stom- ach, oesophagus, and fauces. When it is used in small doses long continued, a condition called iodism may arise, consisting in fever, restlessness, disturbed sleep, gastro-intestinal irritation, and progressive emaciation. These symptoms are not likely to arise either from the iodide of potassium or from the iodide of sodium, and are indeed not very frequent from the cautious use of iodine itself. The action of iodide of potassium in considerable quantity is sometimes marked by coryza, and a rash, like acne, upon the face and chest. Iodine has been principally used in diseases involving glandular enlargement, such as goitre and scrofula, and also with great benefit in syphilis and in chronic rheumatism. In chronic poi- soning by mercury or by lead, the metal re- maining in the system may be rendered more soluble, and removed by the iodide of potassi- um. This is shown not only by the improve- ment of the patient's condition, but by the de- tection of the metal by chemical tests in the urine. For these purposes it should be used in large doses of from 10 to 20 or 30 grains three times a day. Iodine, iodide of potassium, and iodides of sulphur, lead, and mercury are used externally in the shape of tincture and oint- ment. Some of these are useful counter-irri- tants. Any specific ab- sorbent effect on the part of the ointment is not clearly proved. In- jections of tincture of iodine have been made into diseased cavities, especially those lined with serous or syno- vial membrane, as the joints, tunica vaginalis, and ovarian cysts, to excite adhesive inflam- mation ; and it has been injected into the pleu- ra, and even the pericar- dium and peritoneum. Inhalations of the va- por have been employed in pulmonary disease, lodic alimentation, by introducing iodine into articles of food, as bread, has been proposed. Iodine has also been united with cod-liver oil. A solution of iodine in iodide of potassium is useful in the detection of many alkaloids, with which it forms more or less insoluble com- pounds. It has also been proposed as an anti- dote to alkaloid poisons; but it should be borne in mind that the compounds formed by iodine with strychnia, for instance, are prob- ably only relatively harmless, and the absorp- tion merely delayed, so that other means of treatment should not be neglected, although the iodine solution, if convenient, may be used to gain time. The special forms of disease in which iodine and its preparations have been found most useful are goitre, enlarged scrofu- lous glands, scrofulous ulcers and abscesses, secondary and tertiary syphilis, enlargement and induration of the ovaries, chronic affec- tions of the os uteri, dysmenorrhcea, enlarge- ment of the spleen, chronic rheumatism and gout, pleurisy with effusion, and tubercular af- fections of the head and chest. The dose of iodine for internal use is from -fa to J gr. three times a day ; of iodide of potassium, from 1 gr. to 12 or 15 grs. ; of iodide of sodium, 5 to 20 grs. ; of iodide of iron, 3 or 4 grs. ; of iodide of mercury, gr. to 1 gr. ; of biniodide of mercury, T V to $ gr. ; of iodide of sulphur, 2 or 3 grs. ; of iodoform, ^ gr. to 2 grs. Iodine and the iodides are best given before or after eating ; they are apt to irritate an empty stom- ach. A generous diet is usually advisable in connection with a therapeutic course of iodine or of the iodides. IONA, or Icolmkill, called also I or Hy, a small island of the inner Hebrides, situated in lat. 56 22' N., Ion. 6 25' W., 9 m. S. W. of Staffa, and separated from the island of Mull by a channel 1J m. wide, called the sound of I or Ruins of St. Mary's Church of Icolmkill. It is embraced of Kilfinichen and county of m. long by 1-J- m. broad; It has an irregular surface of in places to 400 ft. About island are under cultivation, within the parish Argylo, and is 3 pop. about 300. moorland, rising 600 acres of the producing barley