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
Six of the correspondents have not used it, or are uncertain whether
or not they used the product made by Gardner. One correspondent
remarks: “Never used it. Repelled by claims of superiority which
exaggerate disadvantages of potassium iodid and overlook the small
amount of iodin used in the preparation advertised.” The five
clinicians who have prescribed the preparation report as follows:
1. Objectionable iodin effects in two cases, both patients being
intolerant of all iodin preparations. 2. Has only prescribed it once
or twice, but thinks he has seen iodism in one case, some years ago;
does not recall clearly. 3. No; but has used this make very little,
and then always in very small but continued doses. 4. No, always used
it in small doses. 5. Yes, several cases in children; typical coryza,
etc., with doses of three drams three times a day.
CONCLUSIONS: It appears that typical iodism occurred in several
cases, after doses corresponding to 10 grains or less of potassium
iodid per day, and this is a rather limited clinical material.
Objectionable iodin effects are, therefore, not uncommon. Several
correspondents remark that the relative infrequency of iodism is
easily explainable by the fact that syrup is rarely employed in
conditions which demand an active iodin medication and that it is,
therefore, always taken in small doses. In fact, the main if not the
only point of superiority of the syrup appears to be in its flavor.
These clinical opinions and experiences, therefore, are in complete
agreement with the judgment of the committee, namely, that the
therapeutic claims made by the manufacturers for this article are
exaggerated and misleading.
OTHER MISSTATEMENTS
The above is by no means the only misstatement in the printed matter
issued by this manufacturer. In the publication, “The Applications
of Iodin,” issued in 1907, there occur the following misleading
statements which, since they refer to plainly chemical facts, did not
require submission to the clinical staff:
That the administration of potassium iodid after meals greatly
impairs its physiologic action “by its chemical union with the
various food products” (page 19). So far as the committee knows,
potassium iodid does not combine with the food products in the
stomach.
“Iodid of potassium, having an alkaline reaction, neutralizes the
hydrochloric acid in the gastric secretions, causing indigestion,
loss of appetite and depression” (page 19). The United States
Pharmacopeia states, under Potassii Iodidum: “Its aqueous solution
is neutral or has a slightly alkaline reaction on litmus paper.” The
slight occasional alkalinity would be physiologically insignificant,
and it is absurd to claim that this alkalinity causes “indigestion,
loss of appetite and depression.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account