Discovery and Early Uses of Iodine

• Louis Rosenfeld ^[1]
  1. [1] New York University

     New York University

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 77, Nº 8 (August), 2000, págs. 984-984
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The ancient Chinese recognized goiter and the therapeutic effects of burnt sponge and seaweed in reducing its size or causing its disappearance. The modern use of iodine in the prevention of goiter dates from 1830, when it was proposed that goiter is an iodine deficiency disease due to lack of iodine in the water supply. But unfavorable symptoms of iodism were frequent owing to overenthusiastic use and overdose of iodine. Consequently, iodide prophylaxis was discredited and abandoned. The presence of iodine in organic combination as a normal constituent of the thyroid was established in 1896 and the use of iodine in treatment and prevention of goiter was revived. In 1917 the general use of iodized salt in goitrous areas was shown to be effective in preventing simple endemic goiter.