VAN VLECK’S CATARRH BALM.

This balm is supplied by an American Company having an address in London. The price charged is 4s. 6d. for a package containing 1⅛ oz.

In an accompanying circular it is stated that:

This preparation is perfectly harmless, readily absorbed, and through its healing, soothing action affords immediate relief and quickly cures Catarrh of the Nose and Head, Catarrhal Deafness, Hay Fever, Cold in the Head, La Grippe, Tonsillitis, Sore Throat and all inflamed, irritated conditions of the nose and throat.

The “Balm” was an ointment, contained in a collapsible tube. The directions on the label are:

First clear your head out thoroughly by blowing your nose, then squeeze out from the tube a piece of Dr. Van Vleck’s Catarrh Balm about the size of a pea, on the end of the finger, and rub it well up into each nostril, hold the other nostril and snuff it up until you can feel it all the way up through the air passages in your head. For severe Catarrh in the Head and Cold in the Head also rub thoroughly over the outside of the nose and across the forehead and on the sides of the head just below the temples. For Catarrhal Sore Throat and Tonsillitis rub thoroughly on the outside of the throat and swallow at bedtime a small piece about the size of a pea. Do not get it into the eyes. This preparation is perfectly harmless, readily absorbed, and through its healing, antiseptic, soothing action affords immediate relief.

The substance consisted of soft paraffin containing a small quantity of phenol and about 2 per cent. of a mixture of volatile oils. Oils of eucalyptus, pumilio pine, and yellow sandal-wood were recognized, and the respective proportions of these were estimated by comparing mixtures of known composition with the original. The results obtained gave the following formula

Phenol0·6part.
Sandal-wood oil0·5”
Oil of pumilio pine 0·7”
”  eucalyptus1.2parts.
Soft paraffin to100  

The estimated cost of the ingredients for 1⅛ oz. is ½d.