PIL. CASCARA COMPOUND-ROBINS

Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry

A circular issued by the A. H. Robins Company of Richmond, Va., contains the following statement:

“PIL. CASCARA COMPOUND-ROBINS is a rational therapeutic formula, composed of CASCARA, PODOPHYLLIN, COLOCYNTH and HYOSCYAMUS, which promotes a natural flow of secretions, which is, in turn, the physiologic stimulant of peristalsis. Thus, a normal evacuation is produced without subsequent inhibition.

“They contain no Mercury, Strychnia nor Belladonna.

“An ideal aid to any remedial agent, when a Mild, Medium or Strong alimentary stimulant is needed [sic].

“Made in two strengths, the dosage may be easily regulated so as to obtain the effects of an Anti-Dyspeptic, Aperient, Laxative or Cathartic, as desired. They never cause discomfort unless given in larger dose than needed.”

This preparation is another example of the innumerable mixtures of well-known drugs having nothing in the way of originality or of special therapeutic value to recommend them.

The advertising implies that this particular combination has a special action on the secretions of the gastro-intestinal tract; otherwise it would be hard to explain the claim that the preparation is antidyspeptic, if that means anything more than a laxative or cathartic.

The claim is made that this preparation contains no belladonna—yet it admittedly contains hyoscyamus! This manifests either ignorance on the part of the manufacturers, or an effort to impose on the medical profession. Both belladonna and hyoscyamus contain variable amounts of similar alkaloids, chiefly hyoscyamin. Hyoscyamus is feebler than belladonna in its action, as it contains less alkaloid. The qualitative differences between the two drugs, with reference to their use as laxatives, is so slight as to make the company’s claim for hyoscyamus appear either deliberately misleading or to be the result of crass ignorance. Promoting this mixture of well-known laxatives and cathartics as an “ideal aid to any remedial agent when a mild, medium or strong alimentary stimulant is needed” is a slur on the intelligence of physicians.

Pil. Cascara Compound-Robins is not acceptable for New and Non­official Remedies.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 27, 1917.)