Iodum, a non-metallic element. (I). Iodine and the iodides.
INTRODUCTION
SUSCEPTIBILITY to the action of iodine varies very much in different individuals. The most constant and conspicuous effects are upon the respiratory and buccal mucous membranes and the skin.
PATHOGENESIS.
Beginning in the nose, swelling of the mucosa extends up to the conjunctiva and down to the larynx and bronchi; watery discharge, sneezing, feeling of fulness, aching over the frontal sinuses and lachrymation are induced; oedema and ulceration of the larynx may cause dyspnoea, and bronchitis with watery secretion similar to that of the nasal mucous membrane causes cough and dyspnoea. OEdema of the lungs and pleural effusion may develop. The skin rash is chiefly pustular, accompanied by erythema; eczema, vesicles and purpuric spots may also occur.
The iodides are somewhat diuretic and in sensitive subjects may cause albuminuria, cystitis, urethritis and vaginitis. Iodine and the iodides stimulate thyroid secretion, and in this indirect manner may cause many of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. All the iodides produce iodism irrespective of their basic ion.
Poisonous doses, after injection into cysts, &c., may cause vomiting, thirst, cyanosis, and surface coldness, with skin eruption, small, feeble, rapid pulse, suppression of urine and death. The mucous lining of the digestive tract is found to be swollen and detached from its basement membrane, or at least loosened, and fatty degeneration of the kidneys, heart and liver is produced.
The general effects of the prolonged administration of iodine and the iodides in small and medium doses are as follows: Emaciation and marasmus, atrophy of glandular tissue as found in lymphatic glands (especially the mesenteric), the testes, ovaries and thyroid. This appears to occur after primary stimulation and painless swelling. Prostration with excitability, nervous and muscular trembling, twitching and restlessness come on and are likely to be followed by apathy. Pyrexia, thirst and profuse night sweats are found; also chronic joint affections. The skin becomes dirty yellow in colour, and either dry (with thyroid deficiency) or clammy. Aggravation at night and in a warm room, sleeplessness after 3 a.m., and relief in the open air are characteristic modalities of iodine.
Mental and Nervous.-Nervous excitability and restlessness, mental and bodily, are conspicuous. The prover (or patient) wants to move from place to place. Afterwards, or even accompanying the excitability, sadness, amounting to melancholy, comes on; the patient is anxious and shuns and dreads everyone. With this there will be probably be a general confused feeling with inability for mental effort. In inflammatory conditions delirium may occur.
Head.-Vertigo is frequent.
There are three or four distinctive headaches: (a) Pain as from a tight band round the head; (b) frontal headache, concentrating just above the nose, or on the talking; (c) mid- morning headache, chiefly occipital, worse from movement and relieved by rest; (d) a throbbing headache, felt all over the head, accompanied sometimes by pulsation all over the body and associated with prostration, tremor at the heart and fainting, worse from change of posture or occupation if the change alters the heart-rate, in either direction. In this particular the local symptom of headache does not conform to the general modality of restless desire for change of posture and place.
Eyes.-Protrusion of the eyeballs, as in thyroidism, oedema of the lids, and conjunctival irritation with flow of tears are among the eye symptoms.
Nose.-The catarrh already referred to has the peculiarity of being fluent in the open air (hydrastis) and dry towards evening (especially indoors). It may occur in violent spells with sneezing, lachrymation and even cough, and tight, wheezing breathing.
Face.-The complexion is apt to be of a pale yellow or greenish hue.
Mouth.-The gums are soft and bleeding, the breath offensive, and the tongue has a thick coating.
Throat.-Besides the irritations of the mucosa of fauces and pharynx there is a feeling of constriction which makes swallowing difficult. The inflammation and ulceration of the throat may extend down the oesophagus.
Digestive System.-The most pronounced subjective symptom is ravenous hunger, which cannot be satisfied; in spite of this big appetite the patient continuously lose flesh. Thirst and heartburn also occur. Pain in the upper part of the abdomen and hardness and tenderness on pressure are felt in the epigastrium and either hypochondrium. The inguinal and mesenteric glands may be enlarged. There is a tendency to diarrhoea, with watery and frothy stools, but spells of constipation may alternate with it.
Genito-urinary System.-Urination may be frequent or involuntary. The sexual glands in both sexes (as stated) may become indurated (especially the testicles) and they may become atrophic either secondarily to the swelling of primarily. The latter refers especially to the breasts. Uterine haemorrhage, renewed after or with every stool, and very acrid leucorrhoea, irritating wherever it touches neighbouring skin, are noteworthy.
Respiratory System.-The respiratory symptoms are such as arise from the irritation of mucous membranes already referred to-hoarseness, aphonia, pain in the larynx, with cough which may be croupy. Dyspnoea, especially inspiratory, from constriction or swelling of the glottis may be accompanied by dry, barking cough, as in laryngitis or diphtheria. A patient throws back his head or grasps at the larynx (especially children)- devices instinctively adopted to remove laryngeal obstruction. This is an obvious explanation of the manoeuvre (when it occurs), but the symptoms is of value as indicative of certain drugs, because it does not occur in all patients with laryngeal affections, or under the influence of all larynx-affecting drugs. The laryngeal symptoms are said to be worse in the morning, but there are no very striking modalities in connection with the respiratory system.
Circulatory System.-Precordial anxiety and restlessness, forcing change of position (contrast headache “d”), should be borne in mind. A further degree is the sensation (produced also by cactus, lachesis, &c.) of the heart being grasped or constricted, ” as if in a vice or by a hand” is the provers’ expression, oppressive pain in the cardiac region is somewhat similar. Palpitation occurs from the least exertion or from coughing. Sharp, piercing pains shooting about the chest appear to be neuralgic.
Limbs.-Apart from skin affections in these parts there is little to record. Trembling of the limbs when used, as part of the general prostration; tearing pain in the left elbow, oedema of the feet and acrid foot sweat are the chief symptoms.
THERAPEUTICS.
Iodine is used by surgeons to disinfect the skin before operations. It is also used a a counter-irritant in inflamed joints, &c., and has the advantage of being both mild and enduring in its action. Internally iodine and iodide of potassium and sodium have been used in goitre, and, when there is a deficiency of iodine in the food or water, to prevent the onset of goitre. In goitrous districts it is given added to table salt in infinitesimal quantities, or administered to children separately in doses of 0-2 grm. for ten days twice a year. The chief use of iodine in orthodox practice has been its administration in the form of iodide of potassium in the treatment of tertiary syphilis. It is invaluable in causing absorption of syphilitic gummata and other low-grade tissues occurring in syphilis from irritation caused by the spirochete of syphilis, such as syphilitic bone disease or ulcerations. Large doses are given for this purpose, 30 to 80 gr. a day, and the results, especially in gummata of the brain, are often striking. It is also of great service in syphilitic arteritis, especially of the aorta, and in angina pectoris and aneurysm due to this condition. The beneficial action of iodides in syphilis is owing to their causing absorption of the diseased products and not to any parasiticidal action on the spirochaetes. It has a curative action in actinomycosis and sporotrichosis, similar to that it has in syphilitic gummata, and has been used a good deal, but will less certain result, in chronic rheumatic affections of the joints and some skin diseases. Iodide of potassium is given in some cases of bronchitis and asthma as an expectorant to render the bronchial secretions less tenacious, and also in cases of chronic lead and mercury poisoning, as it forms soluble salts with these metals and thereby aids in their excretion.
HOMOEOPATHIC experience suggests that subjects with dark hair and eyes (bromine, light complexions), and “scrofulous” persons, especially children, are most sensitive to the influence of iodine. Iodine has been seen to induce (temporarily) a condition of hyperthyroidism, and clinically the group of symptoms forming that picture should be benefited by the drug in minimum doses, provided always that the condition is not due to some form of iodine stimulation. A complex of symptoms may be present calling to mind those due to this drug, and they may have syphilis or tuberculosis as their underlying cause; in either case iodine requires very careful consideration. In many of these conditions it has been used in orthodox practice in substantial doses. This fact, together with a paucity of indicative modalities, accounts for its not being much used in homoeopathic practice, but in some of these cases its use may be unconscious homoeopathy. If this be the case, it would suggest that the dosage of drugs may vary widely and that the same drug may require widely different doses in different maladies, while still “acting homoeopathy.” As “spongia” iodine has a definite place in “croupous” coughs-see that remedy.
Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy and the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association. He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. Edwin Awdas Neatby wrote The place of operation in the treatment of uterine fibroids, Modern developments in medicine, Pleural effusions in children, Manual of Homoeo Therapeutics,