Acidum Iodicum

Iodic Acid

It occurs in the form of white crystalline tablets and masses, having a bitter taste, astringent, odorless, and freely soluble in water.

Iodic acid combines with bases to form salts, which are crystalline and freely soluble in water.

The dose of iodic acid is from gr. 1/6 to gr. j.

Sodii Iodas

Iodate of sodium. Dose, gr. j to gr. x.

Potassii Iodas

Iodate of potassium. Dose, gr. j to gr. x.

Actions and Uses

Iodic acid readily parts with its oxygen in the presence of reducing substances, depositing iodine. In contact with organic matter and with vegetable alkaloids—morphine, for example—it loses oxygen. When administered internally, it is reduced in its passage through the system, iodine appearing in the urine. It promotes appetite and digestion, favors the constructive metamorphosis, and improves the globular richness of the blood. It is an active haemostatic, and stops general oozing of blood and arrests bleeding from the stomach. Binz shows that it is an effective antipyretic, and that it depresses the functions of the brain, causing sleep and ultimately coma. The iodine is eliminated by the kidneys.

Locally applied to the mucous membrane or to an abraded surface it acts as an irritant, having a similar effect to iodine and iodoform.

Therapeutically, iodic acid and the iodates are applied topically to the nares, throat, and auditory canal by subcutaneous injection in the treatment of specific disorders, by the stomach for the relief of maladies of that viscus, for diseases of the glandular system, for bronchitis and asthma, for rheumatic and joint affections, for the effects of subacute inflammation, and to procure the absorption of exudates. For ulcerations of the nasal and pharyngeal mucous membrane Ruhemann advises a mixture of iodic and boric acids—1 to 5 up to 10 parts. As a local application, the same authority advocates the mixture of iodate of sodium and boric acid in the proportion of 1 part of the iodate to 8 or 10 parts of the acid. He finds this combination useful as an antiseptic application in catarrh and other affections of the broncho-pulmonary mucous membrane. For instillation into the eye he advises a solution in water of 1 to 10 or 20.

Iodic acid seems specially valuable as a haemostatic to restrain bleeding after surgical operations, and to arrest general oozing of blood. It is indicated in haematemesis. Solutions of iodic acid, 5 per cent up to 20 per cent, are useful in the treatment of gonorrhoea, as application to soft chancre, for cervicitis and other catarrhal affections of the genito-urinary mucous membrane.

In strumous affections, glandular tumors, bronchial asthma, and in the various manifestations of constitutional syphilis the iodates are said to be effective remedies. In these diseases, especially in the syphilitic, iodate of sodium has been administered subcutaneously with much success. In joint tuberculosis, treated heretofore by iodoform injections, iodic acid is said to be preferable, used in the same manner. The pain of the injection may be allayed by the simultaneous use of cocaine. Iodic acid is also recommended to be used by the method of parenchymatous injection in the treatment of tumors, glandular enlargements, and cystic growths.

Authorities referred to:

Ruhemann, Dr. J. Therapeut. Verwerthbarkeit der lodsaurer und des iodsauren Natron. Therapeut. Monats., Marz, April, 1894.