OPHTHALMOL-LINDEMANN

Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry

Ophthalmol-Lindemann was taken up for consideration by the Council because of inquiries received. The following report, declaring Ophthalmol inadmissible to New and Non­official Remedies, was adopted by the Council and its publication authorized.

W. A. Puckner, Secretary.

Ophthalmol-Lindemann (Innis, Speiden and Co., New York) is advertised as a treatment for eye diseases by “hyperemia.” The circular advertising the product is written somewhat in the style of “patent medicine” advertisements. It contains testimonials of dubious value. The principle underlying the use of Ophthalmol is that employed to a considerable extent by ophthalmologists, through the use of ethylmorphine (“dionin”), etc., viz., the production of conjunctival irritation in inflammatory eye diseases. Ophthalmol is, therefore, merely a special agent for the production of such ophthalmic irritation.

The advertising circular contains no evidence that Ophthalmol is in any respect superior to the established agents for producing conjunctival hyperemia. On the other hand, there are obvious objections to the use in the eye of a substance of unknown and apparently indefinite composition and uncertain activity. Ophthalmol is said to be an oily solution of “glandular extract of the fish Cobitis Fossilis.” Cobitis fossilis is a small fish said to be common in Germany. According to Kochs, who analyzed Ophthalmol (Arb. a. d. Pharm. Inst. d. Univ. Berl., 4:140, 1907), this fish is popularly believed to predict weather, but medical virtues are not ascribed to it. This “fishy” extract is indefinite, to say the least.

The activity of the preparation is described by the manufacturer thus: “It seems probable that the typical action of Ophthalmol is due to certain organic acids which may have formed during manufacture through the decomposition of protein bodies contained in the crude material.” The profession is not told whether this important decomposition is, or, in fact, can be controlled so as to produce a material of uniform activity.

Kochs concluded from his analysis that Ophthalmol had the properties of rancid olive oil containing about 6 to 7 per cent. mineral oil. The oil contained no nitrogen, left no ash on ignition and though traces of iodin were claimed to be present, no iodin could be found.

It is recommended that Ophthalmol be rejected first, because the use in the eye of an irritant of secret composition and uncertain activity is unscientific and against the interest of public health; second, because Ophthalmol is of secret composition (the composition claimed being practically meaningless), and, third, because no evidence has been submitted to substantiate its claimed superiority over established methods of treatment. The Council declared Ophthalmol inadmissible to New and Non­official Remedies.—(From The Journal A. M. A., July 6, 1918.)