This section is from the book "Recent Materia Medica: Notes On Their Origin And Therapeutics", by F. Harwood Lescher. Also available from Amazon: Recent materia medica.
A new Iodine compound, a substitute for Iodoform, is a combination of Iodine (45.8) and Thymol, first prepared by Messinger and Vortman, by adding an alkaline solution of thymol to a solution of iodine in iodide of potassium.
An amorphous, brownish-red odourless, non-toxic, powder, insoluble in water and glycerine, sparingly in alcohol, freely in ether, chloroform, and fatty oils. No heat must be used.
Therapeutics. Adheres to the skin without irritation. Of great benefit in wounds, burns, psoriasis, lupus, mycosis, etc. An ointment of 5 to 20 per cent. with vaseline, in eczema, ringworm, ulcers, and in gynecological practice: it induces cicatrisation to a great degree.
As the iodine readily leaves it, it should not be mixed with alkalies, or metallic oxides or starch: protect from heat and light.
The Powder, without admixture, applied to an ulcer attended with copious and offensive discharge, promptly abolished the odour and checked the discharge within twenty-four hours. "Moist gauze of Aristol, dusted with the powder, is desirable as a surgical dressing." - Daniel Lewis, M.D.
 
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