“Medeol Suppositories” (Medeol Company, Inc., New York) appear to be an imitation of “Anusol Suppositories” which, in 1907, were found to be inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies. A comparison of the composition and of the claims made for the two preparations will be of interest in the present consideration of Medeol Suppositories: ANUSOL SUPPOSITORIES (1909) MEDEOL SUPPOSITORIES (1917) Anusoli 7.5 Medeol 0.25 Zinc oxid 6.0 Zinc oxid 0.5 Balsam Peru 1.5 Acid. tannic 0.15 Ol. theobrom. 19.0 Bals. Peru 0.16 Ungt. cerat. 2.5 Cocoa butter and wax _q. s._ for 12 suppositories. for 1 suppository. “Anusol” was formerly said to be bismuth iodoresorcinsulphonate. The A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory published a report in 1909 showing that the suppositories contained only 1 per cent. of the iodin declared in the “formula,” and were greatly deficient in bismuth and sulphur. After the publication of the report the American agents for the product disclaimed that “Anusol” was a definite chemical compound. Today Anusol Suppositories are said to contain unstated amounts of the indefinite “bismuth oxyiodid and resorcinsulphonate.” “Medeol” is said to be “resorcinated iodo bismuth,” but no information is vouchsafed as to the character or composition of the ingredient. The therapeutic claims made for the two preparations are similar, as the following, taken from circulars, show: ANUSOL SUPPOSITORIES An innocuous, non-irritant remedy for anal, rectal and vaginal inflammatory affections, especially for HEMORRHOIDS! The local medicinal treatment of hemorrhoidal and other inflammatory ano-rectal conditions has always been unsatisfactory. The usual media cannot be applied in effective concentration without producing intense inflammatory reactions; they are either ineffective or intolerable.... Anusol suppositories are absolutely free from narcotic, caustic or other injurious ingredients and may unhesitatingly be used by both sexes, at any age and under all conditions. MEDEOL SUPPOSITORIES An innocuous, Non-irritant, Efficient Antiphlogistic for use in inflammatory diseases of the rectum, anus and vagina especially in HEMORRHOIDS. Hitherto most of the local remedies used in these conditions have either been too irritating to be employed in sufficient concentration to be efficient or they have lacked efficiency per se.... Medeol suppositories do not contain any narcotic or any caustic or other constituent having violent action; their blandness permits of their use in either sex and at all ages.