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
_Number of Stools._--To produce one or two copious stools a day the
dose required varied considerably, but there was no difference noted on
account of difference in the specific gravity or character of the oils.
_Character of Stools._--The stools were soft, usually formed, sometimes
mushy, obviously greasy. They had a peculiar odor described as sour.
Their consistency varied with the dose, but was the same for the
different kinds of oil.
_Admixture of Oil with Other Ingredients of Stool._--Generally well
mixed, but from time to time a patient would have a stool of free oil.
This occurred with all varieties of oil. (It necessitated reduction
of the dose, and if then the bowels were not active enough, the
administration in addition of cascara, aloin, etc.)
_Leakage About the Anus._--A disagreeable feature complained of by
many is that when they take enough of the oil to move the bowels,
there is sufficient leakage from the anus to keep the neighboring skin
continually in a greasy condition, and sometimes to stain the clothes.
That there is any difference in this regard between the oils has not
been determined.
In the reports, one clinician noted no differences that were not
negligible. Another was slightly in favor of No. 2 (heavy Russian)
as regards taste. A third reporter did not make comparative tests. A
fourth is slightly in favor of “B” (heavy Russian) as regards taste
and general suitability. All of the findings of this investigation
are based on hospital cases. A fifth reporter favored No. 1 (light
Russian petrolatum). He considered it the most prompt in its effect,
the most uniform in results, and the most prone to give a satisfactory
admixture of the oil with the other materials. The difference, however,
from the other oils was not marked. Another reporter noted no special
differences.
SUMMARY
The results of this clinical investigation appear to warrant the
conclusion that so far as therapeutic results are concerned the
differences in the action of the three varieties of liquid petrolatum,
namely, light Russian liquid petrolatum, heavy Russian liquid
petrolatum and American liquid petrolatum, are too slight to be of
importance. Hence the choice between the lighter and the heavier
oils, and between the Russian and the American is an open one, to
be determined not by therapeutic differences, but by palatability,
dependent on the degree to which the refinement of the oil is carried
out. The U. S. Pharmacopeia, the revision of which is now nearing
completion, no doubt will furnish standards which will insure a
suitable product. From the findings of the foregoing report it would
appear that a satisfactory standard might permit the use of either
Russian or American oil, if suitably refined so as to be as nearly as
possible devoid of odor and taste.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., March
6, 1915._)
ANGIER’S EMULSION[AL]
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
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