CREOSOTE-DELSON AND CREOFOS

Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry

Creosote-Delson and Creofos, or Creosote with Hypo­phosphites, were submitted by the Delson Chemical Co., Inc., New York City. Creosote-Delson is said to be “beechwood creosote from which the irritating and caustic properties are removed by fractional distillation.” It is claimed that Creofos contains “2 grains of Creosote-Delson and 33⁄5 grains of the combined Hypo­phosphites in each fluidrachm of the mixture or emulsion, the lime salt predominating.” It is also claimed that “the primary object of the hypo­phosphites in this preparation is that of maintaining the refined creosote in a pure, unoxidized state, and that no particular claim for therapeutic action on their part is advanced.” It is explained further, however, “the addition of the lime was prompted by the belief ... that the fundamental cause of pulmonary tuberculosis is lime starvation....”

The assertions are made that Creosote-Delson is superior to the official creosote because it can be taken “abundantly and persistently without harm to or interference with stomach and kidneys” and can be “taken uninterruptedly and indefinitely,” while the dosage is “unlimited by any former knowledge of Creosote Therapy.” Creosote-Delson is not on the market except in the combination Creofos, although it is supplied on request.

Creofos is advised in the treatment of tuberculosis, whooping cough, measles, “Grippe and Colds,” bronchitis, asthma, “Intestinal Affections (Colitis, Summer Diarrhoea, etc.),” while its use is suggested for the “prevention of the spread of contagious diseases,” and for “preventing contagion in minor contagious diseases at any rate, in schools and families.”

The following advertisement has recently appeared in the New York Medical Journal and in the Therapeutic Gazette:

CREOFOS MEDICATION

is the successful development of the most advanced practice in the treatment of infectious diseases. It destroys completely the causative organisms by a bactericide many times more powerful than phenol, yet absolutely harmless to animal life.

Unlike serums, its activity is not confined to any specific disease, and its use insures against sequelae (as pneumonia following grippe).

Especially valuable in the treatment of infants and patients of delicate constitution and in cases where time is of importance.

The Delson Chemical Co. was requested to supply information regarding the identity of Creosote-Delson and to support the claim that although it is “the whole drug” its dosage is “unlimited by any former knowledge of Creosote Therapy.” The reply was virtually an admission that the toxic, caustic, phenolic components of creosote were present in Creosote-Delson just as in the official creosote.

The referee of the Committee on Therapeutics in submitting his report to the Council pointed out that it is difficult to discuss the pharmacologic merits of a semisecret preparation, like Creosote-Delson, claimed to be more acceptable to the human organism than the official product it is intended to supplant, when the action of the parent drug is still questioned or disputed by eminent clinicians.

Absorption experiments have been carried out with creosote and creosote compounds, such as creosote with hypo­phosphites or calcium or creosote carbonate, chiefly by a study of the elimination products in the urine. But any evidence so far offered that these combinations increase absorption and lessen the irritating, caustic or toxic properties has been wholly inconclusive. The evidence offered by the Delson Chemical Co. presented no control experiments with the official creosote and did not prove that either Creosote-Delson or Creofos was less toxic than a corresponding amount of ordinary beechwood creosote.

The referee concluded that no proof had been offered that these preparations are materially superior to ordinary creosote preparations from the pharmacologic or therapeutic standpoint, and that the claims made for Creosote-Delson and Creofos are unwarranted in the light of our knowledge of the properties of creosote. The advertisement quoted above is an example of unproved and unwarranted claims.

On the recommendation of the referee, the Council declared Creosote-Delson and Creofos inadmissible to New and Non­official Remedies, for conflict with the rules as follows:

Creosote-Delson: The information so far available is not sufficient to define the nature, or composition, of Creosote-Delson, or to indicate in how far this product differs, if at all, from the official creosote (conflict with Rule 1). No methods are furnished for determining the identity or composition of Creosote-Delson (conflict with Rule 2). The available information does not show that Creosote-Delson has advantages over creosote (conflict with Rule 6).

Creofos: The composition of Creosote-Delson not having been furnished, the statement concerning the composition of Creofos is also unsatisfactory (conflict with Rule 1). The therapeutic claims are unsubstantiated and grossly exaggerated (conflict with Rule 6). The name is not descriptive of its composition as is required for pharmaceutical mixtures (conflict with Rule 8). There is no evidence that hypo­phosphites prevent decomposition of creosote (if this occurs). Hence the inclusion of hypo­phosphites must be considered irrational (conflict with Rule 10).

The Council’s report was sent to the Delson Chemical Co. for consideration. The firm’s reply contained nothing to warrant a revision of the report, and the Council voted that Creosote-Delson and Creofos were inadmissible to New and Non­official Remedies and authorized the publication of this report.—(From The Journal A. M. A., July 7, 1917.)