Studies of the Spinal Fluid During Iodid Medication by Mouth

Examinations of the spinal fluid of persons under iodid medication were made to determine the presence of organic or inorganic compounds of iodin. Study 1 includes observations on five patients in the University of California wards of the San Francisco Hospital, on routine iodid medication, and Study 2 observations on one person to whom very large doses of iodids were given. In each case examinations were made of two specimens of spinal fluid. At the first tapping as much fluid as possible was withdrawn, the second tapping being made some time later to ascertain whether or not the newly secreted fluid contained a greater amount of iodin, if any. Barbat1had reported that the withdrawal of spinal fluid while the blood stream was saturated with arsenic allowed a new fluid richer in arsenic to enter the cerebrospinal canal. Study 1. —Iodin was tested for, by myself, in the following