MU-COL

Salt and Borax as Wonder-Workers

“Mu-col, for Cleansing Mucous Membranes” is a nostrum put on the market by the Mu-col Company (Inc.), Buffalo, New York. As a specimen of the claims made for the preparation, the following is typical:

“Mu-col obtains most gratifying results in catarrhal inflammations of the mucous membranes. Leucorrhea, Tonsillitis, Sore Throat, Cystitis, Internal Hemorrhoids, Nasal Catarrh and Pus Cases respond at once to irrigation with Mu-col solution. Strong solutions of Mu-col have proven of sterling value in treating Hives, Prickly Heat, Ivy Poison, Sunburn, Eczema, Typhoid and Scarlet Fever.”

This, and much more Mu-col will do—according to its manufacturers! No wonder physicians want to know the composition of Mu-col. As the manufacturers do not give this information the aid of the Association’s Laboratory was invoked. Let the chemists speak:

LABORATORY REPORT

“The specimen examined was a white powder, and from the odor, thymol, eucalyptol, camphor and oil of wintergreen could be recognized. Qualitatively sodium, chlorid and borate were found. Zinc, benzoate, phenolsulphonate and sulphate could not be found. The solution was alkaline to litmus. Gravimetric determination of chlorid as silver chlorid and titration of borax by Thompson’s method indicated sodium chlorid (NaCl) 47.2 per cent., sodium borate (Na₂B₄O₇+10H₂O) 50.1 per cent.

“It thus appears that Mu-col is a mixture of ordinary salt and borax in equal parts with the addition of a small amount of aromatic substances.”

Mu-col will do just what a solution of salt and borax will do—no more, no less. And yet, it is claimed:

“Mu-col has been successfully used since the year 1900 by more than 50,000 physicians, which has proven it to be the most Efficient, Economical and acceptable, preparation in its field.”—(From The Journal A. M. A., Feb. 7, 1914.)