The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
Science
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2
Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
Patent medicines
A request for further information in regard to the composition of
Brom-I-Phos was sent to the National Drug Company. It was suggested
that since the preparation cannot contain the stated amounts of free
bromin, free iodin and free phosphorus, the form of combination in
which these elements are present should be set forth. In reply,
the firm said, first, that “Brom-I-Phos consists of Bromin, Iodin,
Phosphorus, Glycerin, Wine, Water and Volatile Oils. The Iodin is
rubbed up with a small percentage of Potassium Iodid and 95 per cent.
Alcohol, which solution is mixed with a solution of Bromine and
Spirits of Phosphorus which are combined with the base and aromatics.”
The manufacturer also admitted that phosphorus reacts with bromin
and iodin and that other reactions might occur, but maintained that
it was “justified in assuming the greater part, if not all of these
elements, are actually existent in the nascent state,” and asserted
that its “printed formula complies with our working formula in point of
quantities involved as well as existence of elements in an uncombined
state.”
The A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory reported, on the contrary, that
no free phosphorus, free bromin or free iodin could be found in
Brom-I-Phos, and that no bromate or iodate could be found; bromid and
iodid were present. The addition of silver nitrate to an acidulated
portion, diluted with water, gave an amount of silver halid roughly
agreeing with that which would be obtained had the claimed amount of
bromin and iodin (together with some potassium iodid) been used in the
preparation of Brom-I-Phos and in the process of manufacture become
converted to bromid and iodid.
The Council declared Brom-I-Phos inadmissible to New and Nonofficial
Remedies, for conflict with Rules 1, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
The statement of composition is unsatisfactory and misleading in that
it suggests that the preparation contains bromin, iodin and phosphorus
in the free (elementary) state. The presence of the potent elementary
phosphorus is especially suggested by the small amounts of “phosphorus”
declared.
The following statement on the label of the trade package constitutes
an indirect advertisement to the public:
“INDICATIONS: Scrofula, Coryza, Hay Fever Necrosis, Bronchial and
Throat Affections, Catarrhal Pneumonia, Glandular enlargements of
the Spleen, Thyroid, and Lymphatics, Rickets and Syphilis.”
The following claims are therapeutic exaggerations:
“The Ideal Alterative”
“... indicated in all cases where an alterative is desired ...”
“The association of Bromin with Iodin in Brom-I-Phos materially
enhances the product in the treatment of chronic affections of
the skin, depraved conditions of the mucous membranes, tertiary
syphilis, glandular enlargements, etc.”
In that it suggests that the phosphorus in Brom-I-Phos is more readily
assimilated than ordinary phosphate, the following is misleading:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account