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
“Indicated in Diseases of the Throat and Lungs and of the
Digestive Apparatus. Useful in General Debility and Wasting
Diseases, Especially when due to Faulty Nutrition. The antiseptic
properties of the Emulsion particularly adapt it to the treatment
of diseases of septic or bacterial origin.”
“Angier’s Petroleum Emulsion is indicated in affections of the
throat, lungs and intestinal tract--both subacute and chronic. In
diseases of the digestive apparatus due to catarrhal, ulcerative or
tuberculous conditions, its peculiar soothing, healing and aseptic
properties make its use especially beneficial. Wasting diseases,
particularly when due to faulty nutrition, are greatly benefited
by its use, one of the most noticeable effects being a prompt and
decided increase in weight.”
It is, of course, unnecessary to point out that, since petroleum is
non-absorbable, Angier’s Emulsion contains no ingredient capable of
affecting the respiratory mucous membrane except by local application,
for which, indeed, this preparation is evidently not intended.
COMPOSITION AND FORMULAS
According to a circular which was contained in a trade package recently
purchased
“Each fluidounce of Angier’s Petroleum Emulsion with hypophosphites
contains: 33-1/3 per cent. of our specially purified Petroleum; 9
grains of the combined hypophosphites of lime and soda, chemically
pure glycerin and the necessary emulsifying agents.”
As regards the nature of the product referred to under the indefinite
term “petroleum” the circular states that Angier’s Emulsion is:
“... prepared with refined petroleum specially purified for the
purpose. By a process peculiarly our own the crude petroleum,
obtained from special wells is so purified that all taste and odor
and all objectionable and irritating properties are removed, while
the full medicinal value of the oil is retained....”
The composition assigned to Angier’s Emulsion in an advertising
pamphlet “The Petroleum Idea,” issued in 1907 differs in that it is
said to contain “specially purified crude petroleum” and that each
fluidounce is said to contain 2.84 grains of benzoate of sodium.
While these quotations convey the impression that certain medicinal
constituents of the “specially purified” product obtained from “special
wells” are “retained,” a pamphlet recommending the use of Angier’s
Emulsion for the treatment of constipation assures us that it produces
the “mechanical effects of the purest petroleum” and that it is “purely
mechanical in its action.”[78]
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