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
The Council has previously expressed the opinion[19] that the
preponderance of evidence indicates that whatever therapeutic value
cod liver oil may have depends chiefly, if not entirely, on its fat
(oil). There never was any evidence or scientific authority for the
theory that the therapeutic value of cod liver oil was independent of
its fat content. The fact that the fat is the growth-promoting element
has already been shown, and J. P. Street, chemist for the Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station (The Journal A. M. A., Feb. 20, 1915,
p. 638), in a series of experiments on a number of the so-called
extracts of cod liver or cod liver oil (including Hagee’s Cordial) has
conclusively demonstrated that the growth-promoting properties of the
oil are not to be found in the extracts. Street placed rats on a ration
not sufficient to maintain normal nutrition and growth for an extended
period. After the rats had been on this ration for some time and a
failure to maintain weight was indicated, an amount of dealcoholized
Hagee’s Cordial was substituted for a portion of the lard contained in
the ration. Later Hagee’s Cordial was replaced by cod liver oil.
[19] The Journal A. M. A., Oct. 9, 1909, p. 1201.
Street says:
“None of the four rats did well on Hagee’s Cordial; in fact, they
lost 1.2 to 15.4 gm. during feeding periods of from seven to
fourteen days.”
“The rats failed so quickly when put on Hagee’s Cordial that in two
cases the animals did not recover even when put on the full cod
liver oil ration.”
“... the four rats during the Hagee period, instead of gaining the
normal 24 gm., actually lost 36.2 gm., while during the cod liver
oil period instead of gaining 114 gm., they gained 156.4 gm.”
“_The inferiority of Hagee’s Cordial as a reconstructive and a
nutrient compared with ordinary cod liver oil is apparent._”
Hagee’s Cordial of the Extract of Cod Liver Oil Compound has neither
the nutritive qualities nor the reconstructive efficacy of cod liver
oil. This mixture is worthless for the conditions for which it is
advertised, and is marketed under misleading and unwarranted claims.
It is recommended that Hagee’s Cordial be held ineligible for New and
Nonofficial Remedies.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., April 10, 1915._)
WAMPOLE’S PERFECTED AND TASTELESS PREPARATION OF
AN EXTRACT OF COD LIVER[J]
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
[J] See also reports on Hagee’s Cordial preceding and Waterbury’s
Compound following this; also The Comparative Nutrient Value of Cod
Liver Oil and Cod Liver Oil Cordials, p. 442.
Wampole’s Preparation is another of the oil-free “extracts” of
cod liver. The following formula (which, be it observed, is
non-quantitative and therefore practically worthless) is published by
the owners, Henry K. Wampole & Co., Inc.:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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