“... it is a straight solution of this mercurial compound, as no alkaline iodide or other chemical is used to bring about the solution.” “... It is probably the first and only one-percent oil solution of straight mercury biniodide made in America....” [The manufacturer, in a letter addressed to the secretary of the Council, explains: “By straight solution, I mean that the solution of the red mercuric iodid is effected without the aid of any alkaline iodid or other chemicals.... Biniodol was first offered early in 1912 ...”] “Biniodol is, therefore, superior and much to be preferred to other mercurials used for like purposes. It is highly active therapeutically, producing the desired effects, usually without the inevitable disadvantages of other mercurials. It rarely causes salivation, diarrhea, or other symptoms of mercurial intolerance, even when pushed to full therapeutic effect and when given for a considerable period of time. Nor does it produce anemia.” The Chemical Laboratory of the American Medical Association found that Biniodol contained 1 per cent. of mercuric iodid and 2.5 per cent. of guaiacol; hence the composition is essentially as claimed. It is not true, however, that Biniodol is the “first and only one-percent solution of straight mercury biniodide made in America.” As shown in The Journal A. M. A., Dec. 9, 1914, p. 2247, formulas by Lemaire and Dunning for making a “straight” solution of mercuric iodid were published in this country in 1909 and 1910, respectively. Moreover, a 1 per cent. solution of mercuric iodid in oil is on the market and is described in New and Nonofficial Remedies. To determine whether or not Biniodol is “superior and much to be preferred to other mercurials used for like purposes,” the Council secured the cooperation of the Department of Dermatology and Syphilology of the Western Reserve University cooperating with the Cleveland City Hospital, and of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Each received three samples, labeled respectively, 1, 2 and 3: 1 contained Biniodol; 2, a 1 per cent. solution of mercuric iodid in oil; 3, a solution made up according to the formula of Biniodol, namely, 1 per cent. of mercuric iodid and 2.5 per cent. of guaiacol in oil. All the solutions were sterile. The investigators were not informed which preparation was designated by the respective numbers, but they were asked to use the preparations when intramuscular injections of a 1 per cent. oily solution of mercuric iodid were indicated, and to note what differences, if any, were observed following the use of the different solutions regarding pain, discomfort, induration and any other evidences of effects of the medicaments. The Cleveland investigator reports that the patients were more or less confused in their replies to inquiries and gave rather indefinite and conflicting answers. After carefully tabulating the replies, however, the following summary resulted: