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
Iodum-Miller is a heavy, dark liquid having an odor characteristic
of ether (ethyl oxid). Qualitative tests revealed the presence of
glycerin, free iodin, iodid and potassium. The specific gravity at 25
degrees was 1.284. Direct titration with sodium thiosulphate solution
indicated the presence of 1.68 per cent. of free iodin. A determination
of the total iodin content by the Hunter method indicated 3.06 per
cent. Subtraction of the amount of free iodin found from the total
amount of iodin present, gives 1.38 per cent. combined iodin. Assuming
this to be present as potassium iodid, as appears probable from the
qualitative examination and from the quantitative determination of
potassium, 1.80 per cent. potassium iodid is indicated. From this
examination it is concluded that Iodum-Miller is, essentially,
a solution of iodin and potassium iodid in glycerin, containing
1.68 per cent. free iodin and 1.80 per cent. potassium iodid. The
examination contradicts the assumption that Iodum-Miller is either
novel in principle or new. Moreover, accepting the firm’s statement
that 45 drops weigh 1 dram (60 grains) the examination shows that one
drop equals not “the per cent. of iodine in 1 gr. potas. iodide” but
instead, the per cent. of iodin in only 1/20 grain potassium iodid. As
the statement that “Each drop equals the per cent. of iodine in 1 gr.
potas. iodide” appears on the label of the trade package, Iodum-Miller
would seem to be misbranded under the federal Food and Drugs Act.
The recommended internal dosage of Iodum-Miller (from 1/2 to 20 drops)
is equivalent to from 1/40 to 1 grain of potassium iodid. Its external
efficacy in comparison with that of other iodin preparations may be
estimated by comparing the respective free iodin contents, since the
germicidal power of combined iodid is negligible. While Iodum-Miller
contains 2.15 gm. free iodin in 100 c.c., tincture of iodin contains
7 gm. per 100 c.c. and compound solution of iodin (Lugol’s solution)
contains 5 gm. free iodin in 100 gm.
Among the advertising literature is a circular which purports to be
a “Certificate from Kansas City Testing Laboratory, by Roy Cross,
Secretary.” The “certificate” attempts to prove that Iodum-Miller is
vastly superior to the official tincture of iodin as a germicide,
asserting that “In the process of dissolving [tincture of iodin] in
water, a very large amount of the iodin is lost by precipitation....”
This is not true of the tincture of iodin which is now official,
though it is true of the tincture official in former editions of the
Pharmacopeia. The report ignores completely the widely used aqueous
solution of iodin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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