SOME Br
In the
an
QUACK
REMEDIES.
ANALYTICAL CHEMIST.
of our professional visits, and in hastily opening drawers and cupboards in search of something or the other of which we have urgent need and usually find there, we come across bottles or boxes which we glance at with a half smile, and then overlook with diplomatic presbyopia; for they are quack remedies and nostrums of which our patients of the better class have usually grace enough to be ashamed, and yet the weakness to almost believe in. I have lately confiscated?con permiso?a few of these and# analysed them with the aid of microscope and test-tube, and the results are from their grotesque absurdity, worth " Warner's Safe (shall " we say) pillorying. Cure I find to be a tincture of the two wintergreens, Pyrola umbelldta, a remedy for renal troubles described iu Christison's Dispensatory of some years ago, but long since relegated to the limbo of feeble inefficiencies ; and of Gaultheria procumbens, with a little glycerine. It " contains so would be harmless, but the " cure miicli spirit (rum?) that it would do serious mischief in true cases of Bright's disease, and is so pleasant to take as a dram that I suspect The water-bath rethat is its chief attraction. sidue deflagrates, from the presence of nitrate of potassium, a collateral proof tlwit it is a tincture of the plants, and not merely spirit flavoured with the essential oil of the latter. A couple of " Holloway's Pills" yielded nearly equal parts of Cape aloes and potato starch, with a little powdered licorice root, the latter ingredient giving me little trouble in its identification. " The Ointment" I have not seen " " Beecham's Pills are Cape aloes a sample of. and and potato starch again, pure simple, and, as the striation of the latter is obliterated, the mass must be rolled out after heating. One pound of it would cost something less than sixpence and would make about twelve dozen boxes, worth "a guinea each," and although they are generously given away for a shilling, we can understand how the artistic advertisements are paid for. course
especially
"
Mother
Siegel's Syrup
"
is aloes dissolved
THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Aug., 1889.]
South Africa seems to be the happy hunting ground of the quack; all the pills are Cape aloes with something to harden it. Morri-
in treacle.
of tartar, but potatoe starch is f< St. Jacob's Oil" is a solution of camphor in oil of turpentine, with a few of cajeput, and some colouring drops of oil " " Ellimun's Embrocation contains matter. four parts of dilute acetic acid, two of colza (?) oil, one of turpentine, and, I believe, one of mucilage ; but I had only a single teaspoonful son
now
to
used
cream
preferred.
experiment
upon.
" Steedman's Teething Powders are a mixture of one part of calomel with five of wheat starch, and a trace of opium, enough, however, "
yield the microscopic proof, and the meconic acid reaction in a single powder. " Clarke's " Blood Mixture is a solution of iodide of potassium in coloured and sweetened water, but there was so little left in the bottle that I could not? without more trouble thau it was worth?determine the quantity. " Eno's Fruit Salt" is our old friend the seidlitz (Seignette's) powder with a little sulphate of magnesia and sugar. Another article which is turning the most inoffensive illustrated papers into hideous pitfalls is " Brooke's Soap," which is ordinary soap with about one-fourth its weight of a fine, but very hard, powder, which the polariscope shows Its use will be greatly to to be crushed flint. the advantage of the manufacturers of tin ware " Pear's" is a resiu soap and plated goods. dissolved in spirit during its making, mixed with sugar, and, I think, a little castor-oil. An excellent detergent for any but delicate skins. " Tamar Indien," a confection of senna in a " Minus's Fire Grevery convenient form. " nades contain three ouuces of common salt and one of sal-ammoniac, dissolved in water. I have only this morning come across the absurdly named "Salt Regal"?if the deviser had only had Latinity enough to call it Sal Regalis!-? " and the older seidlitz again itself only " Eno's but with the ingeniously trifling addition of a I find that trace of permanganate of potassium. one-tenth of a grain of Condy's crystals added to a dessert-spoonful of seidlitz powder gives a snow-white saline, and yet a lovely pink colour to a pint of water, and is identical with the last new specific for every ailment, from flatulence and heartburn to cholera and diphtheria! This, however, is all in the way of trade, and unblushing mendacity is the primary element in the art of puffiing. But, as anyone with the most rudimentary knowledge of chemistry would detect the trick in a moment, and the mere tasting of the weakest solution of the permanganate would show that only the most inert trace could be used as a colorant, what must we think of the distinguished analysts' testimonials? The first is an admirable specimen of what is said to be the chief use of language: the Gr. 0. M. him-
to
251
self could not have written as many words with less meaning ; the writer of the second commits himself to a statement which is utterly unjustifiable, and all three will influence the beliefs of the ignorant people who buy quack remedies. Truly " Veritas vel mendacio corrumpitur vel silentio."?Provincial Medical Journal^ uly 1889.
In the
an
QUACK
REMEDIES.
ANALYTICAL CHEMIST.
of our professional visits, and in hastily opening drawers and cupboards in search of something or the other of which we have urgent need and usually find there, we come across bottles or boxes which we glance at with a half smile, and then overlook with diplomatic presbyopia; for they are quack remedies and nostrums of which our patients of the better class have usually grace enough to be ashamed, and yet the weakness to almost believe in. I have lately confiscated?con permiso?a few of these and# analysed them with the aid of microscope and test-tube, and the results are from their grotesque absurdity, worth " Warner's Safe (shall " we say) pillorying. Cure I find to be a tincture of the two wintergreens, Pyrola umbelldta, a remedy for renal troubles described iu Christison's Dispensatory of some years ago, but long since relegated to the limbo of feeble inefficiencies ; and of Gaultheria procumbens, with a little glycerine. It " contains so would be harmless, but the " cure miicli spirit (rum?) that it would do serious mischief in true cases of Bright's disease, and is so pleasant to take as a dram that I suspect The water-bath rethat is its chief attraction. sidue deflagrates, from the presence of nitrate of potassium, a collateral proof tlwit it is a tincture of the plants, and not merely spirit flavoured with the essential oil of the latter. A couple of " Holloway's Pills" yielded nearly equal parts of Cape aloes and potato starch, with a little powdered licorice root, the latter ingredient giving me little trouble in its identification. " The Ointment" I have not seen " " Beecham's Pills are Cape aloes a sample of. and and potato starch again, pure simple, and, as the striation of the latter is obliterated, the mass must be rolled out after heating. One pound of it would cost something less than sixpence and would make about twelve dozen boxes, worth "a guinea each," and although they are generously given away for a shilling, we can understand how the artistic advertisements are paid for. course
especially
"
Mother
Siegel's Syrup
"
is aloes dissolved
THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Aug., 1889.]
South Africa seems to be the happy hunting ground of the quack; all the pills are Cape aloes with something to harden it. Morri-
in treacle.
of tartar, but potatoe starch is f< St. Jacob's Oil" is a solution of camphor in oil of turpentine, with a few of cajeput, and some colouring drops of oil " " Ellimun's Embrocation contains matter. four parts of dilute acetic acid, two of colza (?) oil, one of turpentine, and, I believe, one of mucilage ; but I had only a single teaspoonful son
now
to
used
cream
preferred.
experiment
upon.
" Steedman's Teething Powders are a mixture of one part of calomel with five of wheat starch, and a trace of opium, enough, however, "
yield the microscopic proof, and the meconic acid reaction in a single powder. " Clarke's " Blood Mixture is a solution of iodide of potassium in coloured and sweetened water, but there was so little left in the bottle that I could not? without more trouble thau it was worth?determine the quantity. " Eno's Fruit Salt" is our old friend the seidlitz (Seignette's) powder with a little sulphate of magnesia and sugar. Another article which is turning the most inoffensive illustrated papers into hideous pitfalls is " Brooke's Soap," which is ordinary soap with about one-fourth its weight of a fine, but very hard, powder, which the polariscope shows Its use will be greatly to to be crushed flint. the advantage of the manufacturers of tin ware " Pear's" is a resiu soap and plated goods. dissolved in spirit during its making, mixed with sugar, and, I think, a little castor-oil. An excellent detergent for any but delicate skins. " Tamar Indien," a confection of senna in a " Minus's Fire Grevery convenient form. " nades contain three ouuces of common salt and one of sal-ammoniac, dissolved in water. I have only this morning come across the absurdly named "Salt Regal"?if the deviser had only had Latinity enough to call it Sal Regalis!-? " and the older seidlitz again itself only " Eno's but with the ingeniously trifling addition of a I find that trace of permanganate of potassium. one-tenth of a grain of Condy's crystals added to a dessert-spoonful of seidlitz powder gives a snow-white saline, and yet a lovely pink colour to a pint of water, and is identical with the last new specific for every ailment, from flatulence and heartburn to cholera and diphtheria! This, however, is all in the way of trade, and unblushing mendacity is the primary element in the art of puffiing. But, as anyone with the most rudimentary knowledge of chemistry would detect the trick in a moment, and the mere tasting of the weakest solution of the permanganate would show that only the most inert trace could be used as a colorant, what must we think of the distinguished analysts' testimonials? The first is an admirable specimen of what is said to be the chief use of language: the Gr. 0. M. him-
to
251
self could not have written as many words with less meaning ; the writer of the second commits himself to a statement which is utterly unjustifiable, and all three will influence the beliefs of the ignorant people who buy quack remedies. Truly " Veritas vel mendacio corrumpitur vel silentio."?Provincial Medical Journal^ uly 1889.
