The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
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The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2
Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
Patent medicines
“For gastric distress, weak stomach and dyspepsia, one to two
tablets after eating; repeat in half an hour if needed.
“Also indicated in nausea, flatulence, sour stomach and heartburn.”
While these recommendations sound as if they were addressed to the
public, Gastrogen Tablets are advertised in medical publications and
hence come within the scope of the Council. Gastrogen Tablets are said
to be composed of pepsin, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and
“aromatics.” As each tablet, according to the label, contains 7 grains
of calcium carbonate (chalk), the recommended dosage would in most
cases be sufficient to neutralize the gastric fluids in the stomach
and would thus tend to prevent the pepsin from exerting its digestive
effects. The means adopted to relieve one symptom of dyspepsia,
in other words, defeats the action of the means for relieving the
indigestion. The fact is that patients who need an antacid do not
need pepsin, while those who need pepsin will be harmed by the
administration of an antacid. Gastrologists hold that, except in rare
cases, the evidence tends to show that wherever there is a sufficiency
of hydrochloric acid there is a sufficiency of pepsin. When pepsin
is lacking it should be administered along with hydrochloric acid to
make it effective. The Council voted that Gastrogen Tablets be refused
recognition.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., Dec. 12, 1914._)
GLYCO-HEROIN, SMITH
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
The following report was submitted to the Council by a referee and
publication authorized.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
Glyco-Heroin, Smith (Martin H. Smith Co., New York) is marketed in a
showy “patent-medicine” type of package, the label on which announces
the presence of 1/2 grain of heroin to the fluidounce and admits the
presence of 3.5 per cent. alcohol, an active ingredient that is not
discussed in any way in the literature sent out by the manufacturer.
The composition of Glyco-Heroin, Smith, is given as follows: “Each
teaspoonful represents: Heroin 1/16 grain, White Pine Bark 3-1/2
grains, Ammonium Hypophosphite 3 grains, Balsam Tolu 1/4 grain,
Hyoscyamus 1 grain, Glycerin Q. S.” The alcohol is not mentioned in the
formula.
The advertising matter says of the merits of the formula:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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