Salts of iodine, those which are especially used in medicine being the iodide of potassium and iodide of sodium. Iodides are excreted in the mucus secretions, as well as in the urine, saliva and sweat, and have an action in liquefying the mucus secretion of the bronchial tree. They are therefore used in EXPECTORANTS. They are also used to assist in providing a supply of iodine in patients with goitre, or in individuals who live in an area where goitre is liable to occur because of a de?ciency of IODINE in the drinking water. They may be given in the form of iodised salt. (See THYROID GLAND, DISEASES OF – Goitre.)
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