+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | NOITOL | | (Dr. Bradbury’s Eczema Lotion.) | | For External Application Only! | | Our Most Popular Specialty. | | A specific for the cure of Eczema, Scrofulous and Syphilitic | | Eruptions, Lupus, Salt Rheum, Tetter, Itch. This remedy is | | composed of valuable Oils, combined with Vegetable and | | Mineral Acids in such proportions as cause a rapid and | | permanent cure of the above complaints. | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ Noitol is a clear, nearly colorless, acid solution, the greater portion of which is water. Its specific gravity is 1.0097 at 25 C. Qualitative tests demonstrated the presence of a chlorid, a nitrate, a mercuric salt, free acid and glycerin. No “oils” or “vegetable acids” could be found. Analysis[98] of the preparation indicated that its composition is essentially as follows: [98] Details of this analysis are published in the annual report for 1910 of the Chemical Laboratory of the American Medical Association. Mercuric Chlorid 0.0463 gm. in 100 c.c. Mercuric Nitrate 0.0450 gm. in 100 c.c. Glycerin 1.3021 gm. in 100 c.c. Nitric Acid 1.0265 gm. in 100 c.c. Water (by difference) 98.5545 gm. in 100 c.c. From the above it appears that Noitol is simply a weak, acid solution of mercury salts--the total being approximately equivalent to a 1 to 1,000 bichlorid of mercury solution--exploited under a meaningless name. It is but one more example of the old, old story of a well-known remedy being sold at a high price under a name which is in no way indicative of its composition, and under claims which are absurdly false. The price of the mixture is $2.00 a pint; the estimated cost, exclusive of the container, is about 6 cents a gallon, or, put another way: the price of a pint bottle, it is estimated, would make a barrel (31 gallons) of the nostrum. The incorrect statement concerning its components, the unwarranted therapeutic claims made for it, and the exorbitant price easily place Noitol in the front rank among the “patent medicine” frauds. Yet it is advertised to physicians as an ethical proprietary and is evidently being prescribed by them. Anadol In the circular matter accompanying the trade package of the preparation, “Noitol,” described above, a preparation called “Anadol” is described. Anadol is claimed to be an analgesic and antipyretic. In the descriptive circular there is no information concerning the composition of the preparation, but from the general therapeutic description the physician might easily be led to believe that “Anadol” is a distinct chemical substance.