[125] The evolution of “Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of Quinine Comp.” from “Phillips’ Wheat Phosphates” may be interesting. Every one knows that therapeutics tends to fashions, and “Phillips’ Wheat Phosphates” appears to have had its inception as the result of the observation that super-refined white flour contains less phosphates than the corresponding amount of wheat. It was assumed that such flour must be deficient in an essential constituent, and the Wheat Phosphates preparation was apparently designed to fill the want. It was exploited for the relief of numerous conditions that were supposed, without satisfactory evidence, to result from this deficiency. When iron, quinin and strychnin mixtures became the vogue a quarter of a century ago, it was only natural to ride on the wave of popularity and the already widely advertised “Wheat Phosphates” was further enhanced--commercially--by the addition of the iron, quinin and strychnin, the amount of alkaloid added being practically negligible. Those who are not familiar with the various phases of the phosphorus, phosphoric acid, lactophosphate, lecithin, nuclein and glycerophosphate propaganda are referred to a report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry in The Journal A. M. A., Sept. 30, 1916, p. 1033. Some typical claims made for the preparation are: “With marked beneficial action upon the nervous system. To be relied on where a deficiency of the phosphates is evident.” “... brace those tired nerves and aid that worn stomach with Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of Quinine.” “The maintenance of a satisfactory blood pressure level free from intervals of depression may be accomplished by the use of Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of Quinine Compound in appropriate doses.” “The quantities of quinin and strychnin in this preparation are so well balanced that they relieve the depression and fatigue from mental or physical exertion, without the necessity of recourse to alcoholic stimulation.” “The other ingredients of Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of Quinine--phosphoric acid, and the phosphates of potash, magnesia, lime, and iron--are the most rational as well as convenient means of administering these tissue remedies, and of introducing phosphorus--the vitalizing constituent of the nervous system--into the organism.”