Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry The Council has voted to reject several non-proprietary articles and has recommended that the reasons for their rejection be given in The Journal; among these is echinacea. The following paper has been submitted by a subcommittee with the recommendation that it be published. This recommendation was adopted. W. A. Puckner, Secretary. Echinacea When this drug was first introduced, it was a typical nostrum, with exaggerations regarding its therapeutic value that were somewhat more gross than usual. It was later adopted by the eclectic school without being freed from the stigmata of its origin. It was also pressed into use as the main ingredient of such proprietary preparations as Echafolta, Ecthol Eusoma, etc. Efforts have been made to get the regular profession to use it in these various forms. According to J. U. Lloyd (_Pharm. Review_, vol. xxii, p. 9-14), the introduction of echinacea into eclectic medicine is due to the efforts of Dr. H. F. C. Meyer to increase the sale of Meyer’s Blood Purifier, a secret remedy containing it. The following is a literal copy of the label on this nostrum: +------------------------------------------------------------+ | MEYER’S BLOOD PURIFIER | | DIRECTIONS | | This is a powerful drug as an Alterative and Antiseptic | | cases: _Rheumatism, Sick Headache, Erysipelas, Dyspepsia, | | Old Sores and Biles, Open Wounds, Dizziness, Scrofula and | | Sore Eyes._ | | | | In case of _Poisoning by Herbs, & C._, take the double | | dosis, and _Bites of Rattlesnakes_ take three ounces three | | times a day, until the swelling is gone. This is an | | absolute cure within 24 hours. | +------------------------------------------------------------+ After Lloyd had identified the plant, Meyer put the preparation out under another form with the following label: