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
While the discrepancies between the statement of the firm and the facts
are perhaps not great, nevertheless they show that even the formula
last given is incorrect, and that the statements of Koechl & Co., while
no doubt made in good faith, were in this instance unreliable.
In recent advertising matter issued by Koechl & Co., “phenozon-caffein
citrate” is given as a synonym for Migrainin, one circular stating that
“Migrainin is phenozon-caffein citrate,” etc. In the same circular the
following also appears: “In the treatment of migraine with phenacetin
or antipyrin, the attack is delayed, while with Migrainin it is usually
permanently stayed.” This will, no doubt, lead physicians to infer
that Migrainin is not a mixture of antipyrin and caffein citrate, but
that it is some new compound. While the firm disclaims any intention
to mislead, it does not offer to withdraw or modify this circular. It
is recommended, therefore, that the approval of Migrainin be rescinded
and that it be omitted from New and Nonofficial Remedies.--(_From The
Journal A. M. A., June 5, 1909._)
NEURILLA
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
The following report was adopted by the Council. Its publication was
authorized to show how a practically worthless mixture may be exploited
by means of ill-considered testimonials.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
Neurilla, which appears to be the sole product of the Dad Chemical
Company, New York, is advertised as
“The Ideal Nerve Calmant.”
“... a nerve tonic ... indicated in cases where the nerve centers
are poorly nourished and over-sensitive ...”
“... a stimulant to the nervous system.”
“A Valuable Aid in the Treatment of Fevers, Colds, La Grippe, etc.”
The following non-quantitative and indefinite formula is given on the
label of a recently purchased bottle of Neurilla:
“Prepared from Scutellaria Lateriflora, Passiflora Incarnata and
Aromatics.”
“Proportion of Alcohol 20.3%.
“Made by Dad Chemical Co., New York, U. S. A.
“Dose, One Teaspoonful Four Times a Day.”
According to the formula, then, this mixture contains, aside from
alcohol and aromatics, two vegetable drugs, scutellaria and passiflora,
on which the alleged virtues of the preparation must be presumed to
depend.
Scutellaria lateriflora, or skullcap, is a bitter drug, one of the many
“herbs” to which, on wholly unreliable “clinical evidence,” therapeutic
properties were at one time ascribed. Most pharmacologists do not
mention the drug, and those who do generally state that it has very
feeble therapeutic properties. It was admitted to the Pharmacopeia, but
in 1909 its deletion was recommended by a committee of the Section on
Practice of Medicine of the American Medical Association (The Journal
A. M. A., Sept. 4, 1909, p. 792). We understand that the next edition
of the Pharmacopeia will omit mention of skullcap.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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