The conclusion is that B. Oleum Iodine is a simple solution of iodin in liquid petrolatum to the extent of 0.85 per cent. and not 5 per cent. as claimed. Furthermore, it is not a solution of B. Iodine since no ammonium compound is present.
The preceding report was sent to the B. Iodine Chemical Company. The following reply was received:
Your letter of the 21st inst., received and contents noted and cannot quite agree with your report.
Reasons why: NH4I, a Nitro Hydrate Iodide; NH4I2, a Nitro Hydrate Iodate; and NH4I2I2, Per Iodide, a molecular compound, which I claim, they all being of a NH group, so what can be the objection of Nitrogen Hydrate of Iodine? Of course when your chemist, with the aid of heat, drove off all the Iodine, he naturally brought it back to a NH4I. There’s where he gets the A.M.. I claim a molecular compound.
The Oil of Iodine I sent you by mistake was a 1 per cent. and not a 5 per cent. as marked. I claim it is made from the resublimed Iodine in mineral oil and not the B. Iodine. I claim a 5 per cent. has heretofore never been accomplished, so I therefore can claim something new.
Tr. Iodine contains Alcohol and Potash as a base, the alcohol a dehydrater and Potash an escharotic, and all other soluble Iodines like the tincture have a metallic base. Mine has not. My iodine is compatible almost with all the salts, alkaloids, tannates, and even the metals. You can’t say that for the tincture or the others. Now why should mine not be superior to others?
Preparations as yet are not on the market and a few pamphlets were printed to meet with the requirements of your rulings and approval and shall be corrected if we only can agree on a proper name as you may suggest.
Yours very truly,
The B. Iodine Chemical Co.
By John Bohlander, A.M, M.D.
P.S. We are sending you under separate cover another sample of the Oil of Iodine which is a 5 per cent. solution, and allowing for deterioration will test at least four per cent.