The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
Science
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2
Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
Patent medicines
Since the most important objectionable symptoms of iodid medication
arise after the absorption of the drugs, and since hydrogen iodid is
conceded to be readily absorbed, it is evident that these symptoms
must be equally liable to occur with hydrogen iodid as with potassium
iodid, provided that equivalent doses of iodin are administered. An
apparent difference in clinical results would arise if one drug were
habitually given in smaller doses than the other. Since, however, the
iodin is present in the body in precisely the same form, whether it
is administered as a hydrogen iodid or potassium iodid, it is evident
that a given degree of therapeutic effect would correspond to an
identical tendency to iodism, whichever drug was used. If, as appears
to be the case, the use of hydriodic acid is commonly restricted to
those cases in which only minimal doses of iodin are required, the
relative infrequency, or even absence of symptoms with such doses
would not prove that the drug itself is less apt to cause them than
is the potassium salt.
These facts are in reality self-evident; but since the Council now
has proper facilities for obtaining the views and experiences of
clinicians, it voted to submit the statement in question to its staff
of clinical consultants, and to be guided by their advice.
OPINIONS OF THE CLINICAL STAFF
The following is an epitome of the replies of the eleven members of
this staff who had used the article or who expressed an opinion to
the questions sent out by the Council:
1. QUERY: “Do you think it possible that such a preparation could be
devoid of the usual effects of iodin preparations?”
Eight reply that they consider this, _a priori_, impossible; three
stamp the statement as highly improbable, but do not care to say
that it would be impossible. One of the correspondents remarks:
“While distinctly taking the position that under many conditions
we must accept clinical results which we find not explainable by
our theoretical knowledge, where the conditions are so simple as in
this case and where we know that the iodin, whether administered as
hydrogen iodid or potassium iodid, must behave in the same way, after
absorption, I believe that no properly educated and correct thinking
physician can or will, after due consideration, fail to reject the
claims of superiority made by the proprietors of this preparation.”
2. QUERY: “Would you consider it necessary to make clinical
experiments to settle this question?”
Seven of the correspondents consider this superfluous; four of these
have had some experience with the article. Four, who have not used
this product, consider a clinical test advisable. Under Query 3 we
discuss the results of such tests.
3. QUERY: “When using Gardner’s Syrup of Hydriodic Acid, have you
ever noticed from it any of the objectionable effects of iodin
preparations?”
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