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
[I] See also the reports on Wampole’s Preparation and Waterbury’s
Compound, following this; also Hagee’s Cordial, p. 289; The Comparative
Nutrient Value of Cod Liver Oil and Cod Liver Oil Cordials, p. 442.
This is one of the “oilless” cod liver cordials. Like other
manufacturers of such extracts, the Katharmon Chemical Company, St.
Louis, which owns Hagee’s Cordial, attempts to trade on the reputation
long enjoyed by cod liver oil as a promoter of growth and nutrition.
The following is the statement of composition furnished by the company:
“Each fluid ounce of Hagee’s Cordial of the extract of Cod Liver
Oil Compound represents the extract obtainable from 1/8 fluid
ounce of Cod Liver Oil (the fatty portion being eliminated), 6
grs. Calcium Hypophosphite, 3 grs. Sodium Hypophosphite, 1/2 gr.
Salicylic Acid (made from Oil Wintergreen), with Glycerin and
Aromatics.”
And here are some of the therapeutic claims:
“Tonic, Stimulant, Alterative, Reconstructive, Nutritive and
Digestive.”
“Useful in phthisis pulmonalis, scrofula and all chronic pectoral
complaints, coughs, colds, brain exhaustion, nervous debility,
palsy, chronic cutaneous eruptions and impaired digestion.”
Of course, these absurd claims hark back to the time of the prevalence
of the now discarded theory that the valuable properties of cod liver
oil reside, not in the fat, but in certain nitrogenous, alkaloid-like
constituents present in infinitesimal amounts. Further “playing up”
this theory:
“The prescriber may know that in our preparation he is getting, in
easily assimilable and palatable form, the very properties that
make cod liver oil the best of reconstructives.
“When you prescribe cod liver oil you are after the active
principles--why not give the active principles themselves.”
Proprietary manufacturers usually ignore scientific investigations
which establish facts adverse to proprietary claims; but the same
proprietary manufacturers are quick to seize on any theory that can be
twisted into support of their interests. Thus, recent investigations
having shown that cod liver oil, like butter and egg yolk, possesses
certain growth-promoting properties not found in some other fats, the
promoters of Hagee’s Cordial claim these properties of cod liver oil
for their extract. They assert:
“Recent Chemical Investigations of Cod Liver Oil show that the
active principles contain the nutritive qualities attributed to the
whole oil.”
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