==============+===========+===========+===========+========== | | | No. Found | No. Found | Time | Amount of | in Throat | in Throat Conditions | Since | Formamint | Before | After of Test | Preceding | Used | Use of | Use of | Test | | Formamint | Formamint --------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+---------- Normal | .... | 0 | 1,200,000 | .... | | | | One tablet was| | | | taken and | | | | throat gargled| | | | one hour later| 4 days | 1 tablet | .... |14,750,000 | | | | Normal | 3 days | 0 | 9,950,000 | .... | | | | One tablet was| | | | taken and | | | | throat gargled| | | | ten minutes | | | | later | 1 hour | 1 tablet | .... | 8,000,000 ==============+===========+===========+===========+========== Discussion The contention that Formamint contains formaldehyd was confirmed by analysis. The manufacturers also maintain that Formamint is a new, definite chemical compound, consisting of five molecules of formaldehyd and one molecule of lactose, and that when dissolved in the saliva the formaldehyd is liberated in some new and peculiar form, which they call nascent formaldehyd. This new kind of formaldehyd is, according to the advertising literature, especially powerful in its germicidal properties and at the same time has absolutely no irritating or harmful effects. NOT A CHEMICAL COMPOUND Thoms,[25] retained as an expert by the German government, decided, after a series of chemical investigations, that Formamint was not a definite chemical compound, but that it was probably a solid solution of formaldehyd in lactose. He proved that when the process of manufacture was carried out in exactly the way called for by the Formamint patents, compounds containing a greater or less per cent. of formaldehyd could be made while the other properties remained similar to those of Formamint. The composition of the final product depended on the proportion of the components used in the process. Therefore Formamint did not form a safe means of uniform dosage. [25] Thoms: Arb. a. d. Pharm. Inst. d. Universität, Berlin =11=:210, 1914. As a result of Thoms’ work the German courts held that Formamint was not a new chemical compound. Consequently the Formamint patent (Number 189036) was annulled in Berlin, Nov. 29, 1913.