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
Remove the mystery and tell physicians that a dose of 1/10 or 1/4 of
a grain of potassium iodid is “the most potent method of treatment
available” in tuberculosis and the absurdity becomes self-evident.
Nor is this the worst feature of the advice here offered. Iodin, by
combining with the fatty acids of tuberculous tissues, promotes their
autolysis and consequently their softening and breaking down. The
products of this autolysis are carried by the lymphatics to healthy
tissues and thus may spread the infection. Therefore the use of iodids
in tuberculosis, even in small dosage, should not be undertaken
lightly.
It is recommended that Burnham’s Soluble Iodine, a semi-secret
preparation, exploited by means of extravagant and dangerous
therapeutic claims, be held ineligible for admission to New and
Nonofficial Remedies, and that this report be published.--(_From The
Journal A. M. A., May 15, 1915._)
IODOTONE[Q]
Abstract of Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
[Q] For the unabridged report of the Council’s action on Iodotone, see
Reports Council Pharm. and Chem., 1914, p. 72.
Eimer and Amend, New York, who market Iodotone, state that it is a
solution of hydrogen iodid (hydriodic acid) in glycerin, containing 1
grain of iodin to each fluid dram. The unwarranted assertion is made
that Iodotone
“... will produce the constitutional effect of iodine in a shorter
time than other preparations ...”
This cannot be true, for it is certain that, because of the alkaline
reactions of the tissues, iodids, whether administered as hydrogen
iodid or as alkali iodids, must circulate in precisely the same form
and therefore exert the same therapeutic effects in precisely the same
way.
Eimer and Amend further assert that the ordinary iodids may to
advantage be replaced by Iodotone. The absurdity of this claim is
apparent when it is considered that it will be necessary to administer
nearly one fluidounce of glycerin to obtain an amount of Iodotone
equivalent to a 10-grain dose of potassium iodid. The additional
claim that Iodotone will not disturb the stomach or produce the usual
disagreeable symptoms of iodism is evidently unwarranted, for it is
generally conceded that symptoms of iodism can be avoided only at the
risk of insufficient iodin medication. Because of these unwarranted and
misleading claims and because the name Iodotone would tend toward the
uncritical use of the preparation as a general tonic, the Council voted
that Iodotone be refused recognition.--(_From The Journal A. M. A.,
Dec. 12, 1914._)
IOSALINE
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Iosaline is a rheumatism remedy for external application. In view
of the misleading and unwarranted claims which are made for it, the
Council voted that Iosaline be refused recognition and recommended
publication of the Committee’s report which appears below.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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