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
In “The Therapeutical Value of Foramint in Septic Affections of the
Oro-Pharynx,” De Santi[15] quotes Rosenberg,[16] who reports the
successful use of Formamint in cases of streptococcus infections,
tonsillitis and acute symptoms of chronic sore throat. According
to Seifert,[17] Formamint is a chemical combination of formaldehyd
and milk sugar. When the tablets are dissolved in the saliva, 0.01
per cent. of formaldehyd in its “status nascendi” is liberated and
exercises a strong disinfectant action. Seifert states that the
preparation is markedly palatable, since it contains a little citric
acid to render the taste cool and refreshing. In some experiments with
streptococci, pneumococci, typhoid and diphtheria bacilli, Seifert
found that a solution of one tablet in 10 c.c. of water destroyed
these germs in from five to ten minutes. A solution of the same
strength was also added to culture tubes of broth, agar, and gelatin,
with the result that no growth occurred in them, while distinct and
characteristic development of the bacteria took place in control
tubes. He does not state, however, how much Formamint solution was
added to the mediums.
[15] De Santi: Medical Magazine =16=:141, 1907.
[16] Rosenberg: Lancet, London =2=:1871, 1905.
[17] Seifert: Pharmakol. u. therap. Rundschau, 1904, No. 14; quoted by
De Santi (Note 2).
Daus[18] reports successful treatment of tonsillitis, mumps and middle
ear diseases. In these cases no other gargles or mouth washes were
used. He states that no indication of irritant or other injurious
action made its appearance even after large doses. In the same article,
F. Levy reports experiments as follows: Agar plates were prepared with
a culture of streptococcus from a severe case of quinsy. One half of
the plate was rubbed with saliva containing Formamint in solution.
(The strength of the solution used is not given.) In twenty-four hours
streaks of growth had appeared on one portion of the plates while the
part on which the Formamint saliva had been rubbed remained sterile.
Daus also found that agar and broth cultures of streptococcus shaken
with Formamint saliva remained sterile.
[18] Daus: Med. Klin. =2=:4110, 1906.
Rheinboldt,[19] investigating the effects of Formamint and of ordinary
formaldehyd on animals, concludes that formaldehyd is toxic in action
while Formamint is not.
[19] Rheinboldt: Deutsch. med. Wchnschr. =32=:587, 1906.
[Illustration: How the exploiters of Formamint capitalize the medical
profession. Miniature reproductions of typical Formamint advertisements
appearing in the newspapers.]
Rosenberg[20] corroborates this statement. He also found that agar
plates of _Bacillus prodigiosus_ were killed by Formamint solutions
in about four hours. He fails, however, to give the strength of his
Formamint solutions.
[20] Rosenberg: Therap. d. Gegen. =7=:55, 1905.
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