Donovan's solution is an inorganic compound prepared from

arsenic triiodide Arsenic triiodide is the inorganic compound with the formula As I3. It is an orange to dark red solid that readily sublimes. It is a pyramidal molecule that is useful for preparing organoarsenic compounds. Preparation It is prepared by a reacti ...

and

mercuric iodide Mercury(II) iodide is a chemical compound with the molecular formula Hg I2. It is typically produced synthetically but can also be found in nature as the extremely rare mineral coccinite. Unlike the related mercury(II) chloride it is hardly solu ...

. Despite its name, it is a compound and not a solution. __TOC__

Method

Donovan's solution can be prepared by mixing arsenic triiodide, mercuric iodide, and sodium bicarbonate in aqueous solution. Cooley's ''cyclopædia of practical receipts and ... information on the arts, manufactures, and trades'' gives a more complex method.

Uses

The solution been used in veterinary medicine to treat chronic diseases of the skin and as a folk remedy. It was used during the 19th century to treat ''lepra vulgaris'' and

psoriasis Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by raised areas of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small, localized patches to complete ...

in humans, taken internally.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donovan's solution Inorganic compounds Arsenic(III) compounds Iodides Mercury compounds