but her goître was not affected.[1] An American physician, Dr. Rivers, has twice noticed barrenness apparently induced by the prolonged use of iodine; and as in these instances the females were young and previously very prolific, but ceased to bear children from the time the iodine was used, his observations seem worthy of attention.[2] Dr. Jahn[3] specifies among the leading effects of the poison when slowly accumulated in the body,—absorption of the fat,—increase of all the excretions,—dinginess of the skin, with frequent clammy sweat,—hurried anxious breathing,—diuresis and an appearance of oil floating in the urine,—increased discharge of fæces, which are unusually bilious, but free of mucus,—increased secretion of semen,—increased menstrual discharge,—swelling of the subcutaneous veins and lividity of the lips,—feebleness of the pulse, with superabundance of serosity in the blood,—impaired digestion and diminished secretion of saliva and mucus. This affection, which, in conformity with the name he has given it, may be termed Iodism [Iodkrankheit], he contrasts with mercurialism, the constitutional effect of the accumulation of mercury in the body; and he considers the former not more unmanageable than the latter. The dose required to produce these effects are very various. Some people appear almost insensible to its action; in one instance, nine hundred and fifty-three grains were taken in daily portions varying from two to eighteen grains, without any bad effect;[4] and I have known an average of four grains daily taken for fifteen months, with the effect only of increasing the appetite. On the other hand, Dr. Gairdner has seen severe symptoms commence when half a grain was taken three times a day for a single week;[5] and Coindet has seen bad effects from thirty drops of the solution of ioduretted hydriodate taken daily for five days.[6]
Iodine and iodide of potassium in medicinal doses have been supposed by Dr. Lawrie to be capable of exciting in certain constitutions an affection resembling cynanche laryngea in its symptoms, consisting of inflammation of the salivary glands, glottis, and other adjacent parts, and proving sometimes fatal.[7] This property is doubtful; but several instances have been published of profuse salivation and soreness of the mouth during a course of iodine; it is apt to cause chronic irritation of the Schneiderian membrane; and some think that it may affect in like manner the bronchial membrane in the lungs.[8]
Morbid Appearances from Iodine.—The only account I have seen of the appearances left in the body after death from slow poisoning with iodine is contained in the essay of Dr. Zink. In a second fatal case which came under his notice he found enlarged abdomen from
- ↑ Magazin für die gesammte Heilkunde, xxii. 291.
- ↑ American Journal of Medical Science, viii. 546.
- ↑ Archiv für Medizinische Erfahrung, 1829, i. 342.
- ↑ Johnson's Preface to his Translation of Coindet on Iodine, p. ix.
- ↑ Gairdner, p. 20.
- ↑ Coindet on Iodine, p. 17.
- ↑ London Medical Gazette, 1839-40, ii. 588.
- ↑ Cogswell's Essay, p. 42.
