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
It is not clear from this statement whether 15 parts of Hydragogin
contain 2.5 parts of tincture of strophanthus, plus unspecified
amounts of scillipicrin and scillitoxin, or 2.5 parts of a mixture,
in unspecified proportions, of tincture of strophanthus, scillipicrin
and scillitoxin. The activity of strophanthus, after it enters the
blood stream, is about fifty times that of digitalis; hence, if the
former proportion is the true one, in giving an amount of Hydragogin
which ensures the full therapeutic effect of the digitalis, one would
administer an almost certainly fatal amount of strophanthus. Whatever
the proportion of strophanthus may be, however, the administration
of a mixture of digitalis and strophanthus in fixed proportions is
indefensible. At times it is advisable to follow one of these drugs
with the other in the treatment of cardiac disease. The simultaneous
administration of the two continuously in fixed proportions, however,
is injudicious, because of the great difference between their rates of
absorption and in their activity after they enter the blood stream. The
action of digitalis, moreover, persists much longer than does that of
strophanthus.
An advertising circular contains the following claim:
“The well-known diuretic properties of digitalis, strophanthus and
squills are greatly enhanced by the addition of the oxysaponin.”
This is not true. Saponins are not synergistic with digitalis
therapeutically; on the contrary, they exert a purely deleterious
action on the heart when they enter the circulation.
The symptoms of cardiac disease are often difficult to distinguish
from the toxic actions of the digitalis bodies. Since these bodies
must often be given to the point of beginning toxic action in order
to induce the full therapeutic effects, it is obvious that the
administration of a mixture of digitalis, strophanthus, saponin and
active principles of squill is especially liable to induce serious
toxic effects which cannot be distinguished from the symptoms of the
disease.
Hydragogin is a shotgun mixture of semisecret composition; it is
marketed under a therapeutically suggestive name, and advertised by
means of unwarranted therapeutic claims. It is therefore in conflict
with Rules 1, 6, 8 and 10. The Council held Hydragogin ineligible for
New and Nonofficial Remedies.--(_From The Journal A. M. A., Sept. 4,
1915._)
FILUDINE
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Filudine is said to be prepared by J. L. Chatelain, Paris, and is
sold in this country by Geo. J. Wallau, Inc., New York. It is offered
as a remedy for “biliary insufficiency,” “hepatic insufficiency,”
“intestinal dyspepsia,” “all affections of the liver (diabetes,
cirrhosis, cancer, etc.),” “malaria,” “obesity” and “tuberculosis.”
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