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 action of such a mixture as a whole is practically that of the sum
of the actions of its constituents. The therapeutic action of strychnin
and quinin are described in every text-book of therapeutics, but it
is necessary to distinguish carefully between the various conditions
in which these alkaloids have been used without discrimination, and
those conditions in which they have been proved to be of value.
While both have been widely used in a great variety of conditions,
neither is of proved value in more than a distinctly limited range
of diseases. The manufacturers of Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of
Quinine Comp. seem to appeal to the less discriminating who use these
alkaloids without any definite conception of exactly what they seek
to accomplish with them. Quinin, although used by the uncritical in a
host of diseases, has a definite field of usefulness in the treatment
of malaria, both prophylactic and curative, but the required dose in
the treatment of malaria is many times larger than that recommended in
the Phillips’ preparation. The claim that the “strychnin and quinin
in this preparation are so well balanced that they produce a mild,
buoyant effect, so advantageous, instead of alcoholic stimulation, to
relieve depression and fatigue from mental or physical exertion” is
nonsensical, if, indeed, it is not mendacious balderdash.
Calcium and potassium have important functions in the body, but any
deficiency that may arise is usually attributable to an inability of
the body to utilize that which is supplied, for there is seldom any
deficiency of these salts in the food, and when they are needed they
are best supplied as simple solutions of the salts in appropriate doses
without all of the other constituents of Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of
Quinine Comp.
Phosphoric acid exerts practically the same actions as other mineral
acids, hydrochloric being usually preferred for internal administration
in certain forms of indigestion, aside from which they are seldom used
as such.
In the more recent literature for Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of Quinine
Comp., we find the attempt to utilize the well known craze about
phosphorus, which has been through so many phases, every one of which
has had its day and has been discarded.
The phosphoric acid and phosphates present in Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate
of Quinine are of no more value in nervous diseases than is simple
sodium phosphate which does not require the addition of a host of other
ingredients for its action. As a matter of fact, the phosphates of
calcium and potassium present in a dose of Phillips’ Phospho-Muriate of
Quinine are probably devoid of appreciable effect in practically all
conditions.
To pretend that one who suffers from physical and nervous exhaustion
can be materially benefited by this mixture is sheer nonsense and is
unworthy of a moment’s consideration by a clinician who is called on to
treat such patients.
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