BROMIN-IODIN COMPOUND

The Life-History of a Nostrum

A correspondent writes for information concerning a remedy known as Bromin-Iodin Comp., which he says is manufactured by the Bromin-Iodin Chemical Company, formerly of Binghamton, N. Y., but now located in San Diego, Calif. In The Journal for Feb. 5, 1898, appeared an article by Dr. C. W. Ingraham, Binghamton, N. Y., entitled “Five Years’ Successful Experience with a Special Mode of Treating Pulmonary Tuberculosis.” This “special mode” of treatment consisted in using what Dr. Ingraham called “bromin-iodin compound,” which he said had the following formula:

Iodin	gr.	¹⁄₂
Bromin	gr.	¹⁄₁₄
Phosphorus	gr.	¹⁄₁₀₀
Thymol	gr.	²⁄₃
Sterilized oil	fl. dr.	1

This “hypodermic treatment of phthisis” was widely advertised in the late nineties by the Bromin-Iodin Chemical Co, Binghamton, N. Y., and was but one of the innumerable “treatments” for pulmonary tuberculosis that have risen, had their day and, more or less gracefully, retired. It was first sold “to physicians only” for hypodermic administration. In 1906, however, physicians were told by the company that “if we find it impossible to secure your cooperation ... we will be compelled to do business with the druggists in your locality ...” Apparently they found such cooperation impossible, because a leaflet was issued to the laity and the statement was made that they intended to advertise “all over North America in publications of national and international circulation, as well as in local newspapers ...” Naturally the laity couldn’t be expected to administer this treatment by the hypodermic method and it is not surprising to read that “experiment has proved that the same solution can be taken internally.” In addition to the advertising leaflet, the public also was provided with a “pocket calendar good for 200 years” which contained numerous testimonials from physicians laudatory of the “bromin-iodin” treatment. The layman who received one of the leaflets was told that if he was suffering from “asthma, bronchitis, colds, consumption, coughs, eczema, goiter, hay fever, neuralgia, rheumatism ... also constipation and kidney troubles,” and his recovery was “not as rapid as it should be,” should, moreover, his physician refuse to use the bromin-iodin compound “it might not be a bad idea to discharge him” and get a physician who would!

At the time this “treatment” was first tried by its “inventor,” the results given in fifty cases were: First stage, 90 per cent. cures; second stage, 50 per cent. cures; third stage, no cures, but improvement in several cases; this was in 1895. It now appears that this “treatment” has after a period of “patent-medicine” exploitation come back into the “ethical proprietary” field. Presumably a mixture such as that represented by the “formula” did not lend itself to administration by mouth; there was nothing to do, therefore, but enlist the aid of “easy” physicians in furthering its sale.—(From The Journal A. M. A., June 4, 1910.)