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
The total nitrogen content of the trade products excepting Carnine,
is greater than the amount of nitrogen present in meat juices proper,
but the relative amount of nitrogen present as coagulable protein--the
valuable part of meat juice--is much greater in the latter. In fact,
the amount of coagulable protein present in Valentine’s Meat Juice may
be considered _nil_, which indicates that an unduly high temperature
is used in its preparation. In this connection it should also be
noted that even a moderate elevation of temperature influences the
chemical composition of meat juices. For example, the coagulable matter
present in Nos. 3, 4 and 5, is approximately one-half that present
in Nos. 1 and 2, which appears to indicate that the best product can
be made without the use of any heat whatever. Several of the trade
products, namely Nos. 7, 8 and 9, contain about as much coagulable
material as meat juice made by heating beef to 60 C. According to
the formula appearing in a circular of the Bovinine Company, a part
of the coagulable matter is present in the form of egg albumin, but
the company claims egg albumin is not used at present. In the case of
Carnine, the coagulable matter appears to be introduced by the use
of blood itself. The exact nature of the coagulable protein matter
in Wyeth’s Beef Juice has not been ascertained. It is well known
to manufacturers and physiologic chemists that it is practically
impossible to manufacture a genuine meat juice possessing a reasonable
amount of coagulable proteins, which is stable without a preservative.
Meat juices, in addition to the coagulable protein material, contain
other protein bodies such as albumoses and peptones. These bodies are
largely formed from the original protein bodies present in the meat
juice during the process of manufacture. They are highly nutritious and
largely and readily absorbed from the alimentary canal, but the amount
of these bodies present in the trade products is relatively small
excepting in Bovinine, which is not a meat juice, particularly when the
high prices are considered.
A considerable proportion of the nitrogenous matter contained in
Valentine’s and Wyeth’s products is present in the form of amino bodies
frequently included in the general term, “extractives.” These bodies
may be oxidized in the body and thus supply heat in a manner similar to
alcohol, but it should be remembered that there still appears to be a
wide difference of opinion among various observers on this point. Some
appear to be of the opinion that the amino bodies are devoid of food
value in that these bodies appear in the urine practically unchanged.
It would, therefore, appear that the value of the amino bodies is
largely of a stimulant character.
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