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
The name is in conflict with Rule 8, which requires that pharmaceutical
mixtures shall bear names descriptive of their composition. Further,
the name “Tri-Arsenole” by its similarity to Diarsenol, the Canadian
brand of arseno-phenolamin hydrochlorid, suggests that this
pharmaceutical mixture is a chemical compound similar to salvarsan.
Moreover, the danger of confusion is increased by the addition of
the hydrastis preparation which imparts a yellow color like that of
salvarsan to the solution obtained when the colorless mercury and
arsenic compounds of the mixture are dissolved. Again, the synonym
“Merco-Arseno-Benzo-Chloride” conveys the false impression that
Tri-Arsenole is a definite chemical compound.
The label does not declare the poisonous constituents claimed to
be contained in the mixture; namely, “arsenous acid” and corrosive
mercuric chlorid (Rule 7).
There is no evidence that arsenous acid (arsenic trioxid) used
intravenously is efficient and safe as a spirocheticide, and the
administration of this drug in conjunction with mercuric chlorid
in fixed proportion is irrational and dangerous--particularly so
because of the implied similarity of Tri-Arsenole to arsenphenolamin
hydrochlorid (Salvarsan, Diarsenol) (Rule 10).
=L. O. Compound No. 1 and L. O. Compound No. 2.=--In submitting these
preparations to the Council, the Medical Supply Company stated that
“No. 1” was “composed of the following ingredients; chloral, camphor,
menthol, iodin, and oil of gualtheria, incorporated in a fatty base.
Each ounce contains fifteen grains of chloral hydrate, nine grains
of resublimed iodine.” “No. 2” was said to have the same composition
as “No. 1” except that the oil of gaultheria had been omitted. The
Medical Supply Company was informed that the rules of the Council
required declaration of the amounts of each therapeutic constituent
of pharmaceutical mixtures and that, therefore, in addition to the
information furnished the amounts of camphor, menthol and oil of
gualtheria should be given for “No. 1” and the amount of camphor and
menthol for “No. 2.” The following reply was received:
“L. O. Compound No. 1 equals to each Tube,
Chloral hydrate gr. 15
Camphor gr. 22
Menthol gr. 7-1/2
Iodin (resublime) gr. 3-2/3
Oil of gaultheria m. 3
Petrolatum, q. s. oz. 1
L. O. Compound No. 2,
The same as above formula for L. O. C. No. 1, except the oil of
gaultheria which is omitted.”
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