Dr. Decarro, in his enthusiasm about this new medicine, seems almost to doubt whether accidents have ever occurred from its use, though these accidents have been as public as the day, and the unhappy patients have paid with their lives the inexperience and rashness of their physicians. Thus far I can agree with Decarro, that I have never known or heard of any bad effect from iodine, when it had not been used unadvisedly and injudiciously. It has been used extensively by Hufeland in Germany, who makes no mention of its deleterious properties; and a great number of physicians in London and Paris, and various parts of England and France, have also lately employed it. They have either not met with the accidents I have described, or have prudently concealed them. [3] Dr. Coindet, however, though he must be acquainted with the sad accidents which have occurred in his native city, has not yet taken any public notice of them. This silence on facts so important seems in some degree to invalidate his testimony. * * * * * Having now considered the effects of iodine on the alimentary canal and the nervous system, we are prepared for studying its effect on the absorbent vessels, by which its use in medicine is indicated. This is the most important subject which has yet fallen under my review, and I shall give it as much extension as may be necessary for its perfect discussion. It has been already seen at pages 10 and 12 that the lymphatic system is very powerfully and generally stimulated, so as to occasion a great absorption of all the sebaceous, muscular, and glandular structures of the body; but it will be seen, in the following pages, that the action of iodine may be directed exclusively against tumors, and local disorders, while the healthy structures of the body remain unaffected.