SALOFORM
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
A referee submitted the following report of the American Medical Association Chemical Laboratory to the Council:
ANALYSIS OF SALOFORM
Saloform (Flexner) is advertised by the Robinson-Pettet Company of Louisville, Ky. In the advertisements for the product it is stated that:
“Saloform is a definite chemical compound the component parts of which are Hexamethylene Tetramine, Salicylic Acid and Lithia.”
“As a Uric Acid Solvent it is indicated in Rheumatism, Gout, in Phosphaturia, in Gravel, and in Renal Colic.”
“As a Genito-Urinary Antiseptic it limits suppuration anywhere along the Urinary Tract, from the Kidneys down to the orifice of Urethra.”
As, even after diligent search, no description of a compound of hexamethylenamine (hexamethylenetetramine), salicylic acid and lithia was found in chemical literature, it seemed probable that Saloform is merely a mixture of hexamethylenamine and lithium salicylate. Accordingly the separation of Saloform into its component parts by means of selected solvents was attempted. By triturating the powder with chloroform, filtering and evaporating the filtrate, a residue was obtained which gave satisfactory tests for hexamethylenamine but contained only traces of salicylic acid or lithium salicylate. The portion insoluble in chloroform was dissolved in water. The solution gave satisfactory tests for lithium salicylate but not for hexamethylenamine. From these tests it is evident that Saloform is a simple mixture of hexamethylenamine and lithium salicylate. Quantitative examination indicated that the two ingredients, hexamethylenamine and lithium salicylate, are present in approximately equal amounts.
REFEREE’S RECOMMENDATION
The report of our Chemical Laboratory shows that Saloform is not a definite compound as claimed, but a simple mixture of hexamethylenamin and lithium salicylate. It is therefore in conflict with Rule 1. It is also in conflict with Rule 6, for neither hexamethylenamin, lithium, nor salicylate are therapeutically effective “uric acid solvents”; nor would any of these have any effect on “phosphaturia.”
The mixture also conflicts with Rule 10; for it is inadvisable to administer the ingredients in fixed, but unknown proportions.
It is recommended that Saloform be deemed inadmissible to N. N. R.
The Council adopted the recommendation of the referee and authorized publication of this report.—(From Reports of Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, 1916, p. 71.)