IODINIZED EMULSION (SCOTT) AND CREOSOTONIC (SCOTT)
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
“Iodinized Emulsion (Scott)” and “Creosotonic (Scott)” are proprietary preparations of the Dawson Pharmacal Company, Dawson Springs, Ky. The latter preparation used to be known as “Iodinized Emulsion (Scott) with Hypophosphites, Guaiacol and Creosote.” In 1907 these preparations were considered by the Council and found inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies. Examination of the preparations having been again requested, the Council considered them anew because the composition and claims had been changed somewhat and because at the previous consideration no report was published.
The reports which appear below were sent to the Dawson Pharmacal Company for comment before publication. In reply the company offered to revise its claims for the preparations. The Council replied that the report sent explained that both preparations are irrational mixtures, and hence a revision of the claims would not make them eligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies. It advised that publication of the report would be withheld sixty days and that it would be revised if new information or evidence was submitted permitting such revision. After expiration of the stipulated postponement, the Dawson Pharmacal Company wrote that no new advertising matter had been prepared, but that the old circulars were not being sent out.
As these irrational preparations were still sold and advertised to the medical profession and presumably used by some physicians, the Council directed publication of its report with this explanation.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
Iodinized Emulsion (Scott)
The label for Iodinized Emulsion (Scott) declares:
“Each fluidram contains: Alcohol, m. 43⁄4; Rectified Ol. of Turpentine, m. 31⁄2; Iodin, gr. 1⁄8; Phenol, gr. 1⁄2; Glycerine and Elixir Lactated Pepsin with Aromatic Oils in the form of a perfect emulsion.”
A circular which gives what is asserted to be the composition of Iodinized Emulsion, declares that, among other ingredients, each fluidram contains “one and three quarters m. Tincture of Iodine.” Both the statement on the label that the preparation contains “iodin” and the one in the circular that tincture of iodin is present in the product are incorrect, for the A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory reports that no free iodin could be detected in the preparation, and that it responded to tests for iodid instead.
An advertising circular for Iodinized Emulsion (Scott) makes unwarranted claims for the therapeutic properties of the constituents. For example:
“... the great usefulness of Turpentine in diseases, especially of the Intestinal Infection, such as the Meteorism and Tympanites of Typhoid.”
And this absurdity:
“... where Turpentine, Carbolic Acid or Iodine or even Pepsin is indicated, that it will give satisfaction in each and every case.”
Iodinized Emulsion (Scott) is not a “pharmaceutical triumph”; it is an irrational mixture—a reminder of a decadent polypharmacy—sold under misleading and unwarranted claims. It is inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies for conflict with Rules 1, 6, 8 and 10.
Creosotonic (Scott)
Creosotonic (Scott), advertised as a “reconstructive tonic” for the tuberculous, according to the label, contains in each fluidram:
“Alcohol, m. 21⁄2; Creosote and Guaiacol sulphonates of each, gr. 1; Compound Hypophosphites, gr. 1 (including Quinine Hypophosphites, gr. 1⁄36 and Strychnine Hypophosphites, gr. 1⁄256), with Iodinized Emulsion (Scott) m. 30.”
As in the case of Iodinized Emulsion (Scott), the advertising makes exaggerated therapeutic claims for the individual constituents of the preparation and for the heterogeneous mixture of guaiacol and creosote sulphonates, hypophosphites, quinin, strychnin, turpentine, phenol, iodin, “lactated pepsin,” etc. Thus, while it is well established that in guaiacol sulphonate and creosote sulphonate the phenolic constituent is bound so firmly that, when administered, but very little is split off in the organism, yet the advertising claims “that the system can be saturated in a shorter time and with smaller doses of creosote and guaiacol sulphonates than with any other form of these drugs” and that (on the false premise that the guaiacol and creosote from these drugs will permeate the tissues of the lungs) “they help to clear up the local infection and thus aid in returning to normal the diseased mucous membrane.”
In the advertising pamphlet, following a discussion of the effect of climate and food in the treatment of the tuberculous, we read:
“While admitting the great importance of the foregoing points, we are firmly of the opinion that proper medication is a great aid in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, and, with this in view, we offer to the profession Creosotonic (Scott) believing that in it we have a superior preparation for this purpose.”
This is unwarranted. Of course suitable medication to meet special conditions is proper in the treatment of tuberculosis, but the routine administration of a complex and irrational mixture such as Creosotonic (Scott) is bound to cause inattention to the prime requisites for the proper treatment of the tuberculous—hygienic surroundings and good food.
Creosotonic (Scott) is an irrational mixture, sold under misleading and unwarranted claims. It is inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies for conflict with Rules 1, 6, 8 and 10.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Aug. 24, 1918.)