BROM-I-PHOS
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Brom-I-Phos (National Drug Company, Philadelphia) was submitted to the Council with a label bearing the following statement:
“ ‘ALCOHOL 25 PER CENT.’
COMPOSITION—Per Fluidounce
| Iodin | 1 | gr. |
| Bromin | 1 | gr. |
| Phosphorus | 8-100 | gr. |
| Aromatic Base | q. | s.” |
A request for further information in regard to the composition of Brom-I-Phos was sent to the National Drug Company. It was suggested that since the preparation cannot contain the stated amounts of free bromin, free iodin and free phosphorus, the form of combination in which these elements are present should be set forth. In reply, the firm said, first, that “Brom-I-Phos consists of Bromin, Iodin, Phosphorus, Glycerin, Wine, Water and Volatile Oils. The Iodin is rubbed up with a small percentage of Potassium Iodid and 95 per cent. Alcohol, which solution is mixed with a solution of Bromine and Spirits of Phosphorus which are combined with the base and aromatics.” The manufacturer also admitted that phosphorus reacts with bromin and iodin and that other reactions might occur, but maintained that it was “justified in assuming the greater part, if not all of these elements, are actually existent in the nascent state,” and asserted that its “printed formula complies with our working formula in point of quantities involved as well as existence of elements in an uncombined state.”
The A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory reported, on the contrary, that no free phosphorus, free bromin or free iodin could be found in Brom-I-Phos, and that no bromate or iodate could be found; bromid and iodid were present. The addition of silver nitrate to an acidulated portion, diluted with water, gave an amount of silver halid roughly agreeing with that which would be obtained had the claimed amount of bromin and iodin (together with some potassium iodid) been used in the preparation of Brom-I-Phos and in the process of manufacture become converted to bromid and iodid.
The Council declared Brom-I-Phos inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies, for conflict with Rules 1, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
The statement of composition is unsatisfactory and misleading in that it suggests that the preparation contains bromin, iodin and phosphorus in the free (elementary) state. The presence of the potent elementary phosphorus is especially suggested by the small amounts of “phosphorus” declared.
The following statement on the label of the trade package constitutes an indirect advertisement to the public:
“INDICATIONS: Scrofula, Coryza, Hay Fever Necrosis, Bronchial and Throat Affections, Catarrhal Pneumonia, Glandular enlargements of the Spleen, Thyroid, and Lymphatics, Rickets and Syphilis.”
The following claims are therapeutic exaggerations:
“The Ideal Alterative”
“... indicated in all cases where an alterative is desired ...”
“The association of Bromin with Iodin in Brom-I-Phos materially enhances the product in the treatment of chronic affections of the skin, depraved conditions of the mucous membranes, tertiary syphilis, glandular enlargements, etc.”
In that it suggests that the phosphorus in Brom-I-Phos is more readily assimilated than ordinary phosphate, the following is misleading:
“The Phosphorus contained in Brom-I-Phos is readily assimilated and at once acts as a nutrient to the nervous and osseous structures of the body, stimulates metabolism and increases mental activity.”
The recommendation: “Your specification of Brom-I-Phos in the treatment of Syphilitic cases will immediately prove beneficial to the patient” is not supported by evidence. The name does not indicate that Brom-I-Phos is an alcoholic preparation with iodid as its essential constituent, but suggests that phosphorus is an important constituent, whereas the amount of phosphate or phosphite, produced by the action of iodin on elementary phosphorus (if the amount of phosphorus used in making the preparation is correctly stated) is insignificant.
The combination of bromin, iodin and phosphorus, or bromid, iodid and phosphate, is irrational because these elements are not of mutual assistance to each other in the conditions for which Brom-I-Phos is advertised.
The Council’s report was submitted to the manufacturer of Brom-I-Phos for comment; the reply contained nothing to permit a revision of the previous conclusions.
The Council declared Brom-I-Phos inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies.—(From The Journal A. M. A., June 30, 1917.)