“NATIONAL IODINE SOLUTION” NOT ADMITTED TO N. N. R.
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
The Council has authorized publication of the following report.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
“National Iodine Solution” is a proprietary sold by the National Drug Co., Philadelphia, Pa. From inquiries received by the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry it is evident that the product is extensively brought to the attention of physicians by means of circulars. The name implies that it is a solution of iodin and the inference is given that it has the advantages of iodin without the disadvantages.
COMPOSITION
In view of the foregoing, the Council took up the investigation of “National Iodine Solution,” and in turn asked the A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory to analyze it. The chemist’s report follows:
According to the label of National Iodine Solution, “each fluidounce represents three grains Proteo-albuminoid compound of iodin (National)”; also an alcohol declaration of 7 per cent. is made. Otherwise no information is given as to the composition either of the “solution” or of “Proteo-albuminoid compound of Iodine.”
Each bottle contained about 115 c.c. (nearly 4 ounces) of a yellowish solution, acid in reaction, having an odor resembling witch hazel; its specific gravity at 25 C. was 0.9860. Qualitative tests indicated the presence of zinc, alcohol, sulphate, an iodin compound (the solution gave tests which indicated a very small amount of free iodin; most of the iodin was in the form of ordinary iodid), a small amount of vegetable extractives, and traces of aluminum and potassium. If any protein was present, it was in amounts too small to be identified, though a small amount of a nitrogenous compound was present. The amount of solids in “National Iodine Solution” was equivalent to 0.72 per cent, and the amount of ash, to 0.2 per cent. Quantitative estimations yielded the following:
| Alcohol (by volume) | 7.0 | per cent. |
| Zinc (Zn++) | 0.096 | per cent. |
| Iodin (free and combined) | 0.029 | per cent. |
| Sulphate (SO4- -) | 0.146 | per cent. |
| Protein (N × 6.36) | 0.012 | per cent. |
The above findings indicate that each 100 c.c. contains about 7 c.c. of alcohol, 0.5 gram of zinc sulphate U. S. P. (ZnSO4+7H2O.), 0.03 gram of iodin, 0.01 gram of protein (calculated as such from nitrogen times the factor 6.36) and some hamamelis water. Expressed in equivalent apothecary terms, each fluidounce contains essentially:
| Zinc sulphate | 21⁄3 | grains |
| Iodin (free and combined) | 1⁄8 | grain |
| Protein | 1⁄25 | grain |
| Alcohol | 34 | minims |
This amount of alcohol is equivalent to about 31⁄2 fluidrams of witch hazel water. Although the label states that each fluidounce contains three grains of “proteo-albuminoid compound of iodine,” yet the sum of the protein (calculated from nitrogen content) and iodin components is equivalent to less than 1⁄5 grain.
“National Iodine Solution” appears to be very similar to “Gonocol” (The National Drug Co., Philadelphia, Pa.), which was analyzed by the Bureau of Chemistry of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The bureau stated that “it [Gonocol] consisted essentially of an aqueous solution of zinc sulphate, hamamelis water, a small amount of alcohol, 0.38 grain of iodin, and 0.36 grain of protein per fluidounce.”
It is evident that “National Iodine Solution” is not a solution of free elementary iodin as the name suggests; instead it appears to be a solution of zinc sulphate in witch hazel water containing less than 0.03 per cent. of combined iodin and not more than a trace of free iodin. “National Iodine Solution” is one more to be added to that already long list of proprietaries which makes capital of the high esteem in which physicians hold iodin.
THE CLAIMS
An advertising circular sent to physicians begins:
“Dear Doctor: We beg to suggest a line of treatment while using National Iodine Solution which our many years of experience has proven to us to give the best and quickest results in the treatment of inflammation of the urethral tract ...”
In it are given directions for the treatment of “acute gonorrhea, male,” “anterior urethritis,” “anterior-posterior urethritis,” “ardor urinæ and chordee,” etc., by means of National Iodine Solution and other proprietaries of the National Drug Company’s make. In fact the solution is claimed to be “Indicated in All Conditions of Urethra Accompanied by a Discharge.”
COMMENT AND CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic claims made for “National Iodine Solution” are unwarranted. Such a solution is not indicated in all conditions of the urethra accompanied by discharge. The advice contained in the circular is equivalent to mail-order treatment of gonorrhea.
It is of interest to note that the claims for an identical or a similar solution prepared by the National Drug Company as a treatment for gonorrhea and intended for use by the laity, has been adjudged misbranded by the federal authorities (Notice of Judgment No. 8150, issued Jan. 25, 1921) in that it misled and deceived the purchaser or purchasers thereof in the statements regarding the therapeutic or curative effects of the article, which falsely and fraudulently represent it to be indicated in all conditions of the urethra accompanied with a discharge, “whereas in truth and in fact it was not.”
The Council would emphasize that if physicians give heed to advertising such as that sent out by the National Drug Company for this preparation the medical profession cannot with good grace protest against the routine treatment of venereal diseases by quacks and “patent medicine” venders.—(From The Journal A. M. A., June 4, 1921.)