The Katharmon Chemical Company of St. Louis in advertising its Katharmon appeals especially to a profession whose members, should they live up to their ethical code, could not prescribe it.[124] In 1893 (when the publication of “a formula” for proprietary preparations was thought to satisfy the requirements of scientific medicine) an advertisement in The Journal of the American Medical Association gave the following “formula” for Katharmon: [124] “... it is equally unethical to prescribe or dispense secret medicines or other secret remedial agents,...” Sec. 6, Art. I, Chapter II, _Principles of Medical Ethics_. “Hydrastis Canadensis, Phytolacca Decandra, Acid Salicylous C. P. (from Oil of Wintergreen), Acid Boric C. P., Mentha Arvensis, Thymus Vulgaris, Dist. Ext. Hamamelis Virg. Conc.” In 1907 an advertisement in the Kansas City _Medical Index-Lancet_ declared that: “Katharmon represents in chemical combination the active principles of Hydrastis Canadensis, Gaultheria Procumbens, Hamamelis Virginica, Phytolacca Decandra, Mentha Arvensis, Thymus Vulgaris, with two grains C. P. Boric Acid to each fluid drachm.” Now the advertisements which appear in some medical journals state: “KATHARMON represents in combination Hydrastis Canadensis, Thymus Vulgaris, Mentha Arvensis, Phytolacca Decandra, 10-1/2 grains Acid Borosalicylic, 24 grains Sodium Pyroborate to each fluid ounce of Pure Distilled Extract of Witch Hazel.” A comparison of these so-called formulas shows that they have not only varied from time to time, but that in no instance was a quantitative statement with regard to all the asserted ingredients given. The Chemical Laboratory of the A. M. A. reports: Katharmon has an alkaline reaction and therefore cannot contain boric acid, salicylic acid or “borosalicylic acid” (the latter is unknown to medical literature except as loosely applied to a simple mixture of boric and salicylic acids). The solution gives tests for sodium, borate, and salicylate and therefore probably contains sodium borate and sodium salicylate. Examined by the methods used for the determination of hydrastin in goldenseal preparations, a residue giving only a faint test for alkaloid was obtained; if present at all, hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) is there only in very small amounts. A circular wrapped with the trade package of Katharmon contained the following, palpably unwarranted, claims: “INTERNALLY it is very useful in acute indigestion, Gastric Catarrh, Diarrhoea and Cholera Infantum.”