STEARNS’ WINE
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Frederick Stearns & Co. market a preparation known as “Stearns’ Wine,” “Stearns’ Wine of Cod Liver Ext. with Peptonate of Iron,” and as “Vinum Ext. Morrhuae, Stearns.” The constituents are said to be “concentrated extract of fresh cod livers,” “Peptonate of Iron” and a “fine quality of prime Sherry Wine” containing 18 per cent. of alcohol.
This preparation was at one time marketed through the medical profession, but is now advertised direct to the public in typical “patent medicine” style. The label on a recently purchased bottle of Stearns’ Wine contains the following statements:
“STEARNS WINE is an ideal tonic for elderly people, for weak, pale and delicate children and convalescents.
“STEARNS WINE has for many years been successfully prescribed in the treatment of general or nervous exhaustion, anemia, malnutrition, loss of appetite, loss of sleep, faulty circulation and impoverished blood supply.”
The scope of the recommendations for the preparation is further indicated in a booklet accompanying the bottle, which begins:
“STEARNS’ WINE, What It Is and Why It Is Good for You.”
The conclusion is:
“STEARNS’ WINE is a safe medicine for the young, middle-aged and old. It is a safeguard to the family health.”
It is not necessary to discuss either these all-embracing claims as to the therapeutic efficacy of the mixture or the fallacies presented in favor of cod-liver extract and peptonate of iron. The Council reaffirms the opinion that whatever therapeutic value cod liver may have resides chiefly, if not entirely, in its fatty constituents (The Journal, Oct. 9, 1909; Reports Council Pharm. and Chem., 1909, p. 115). A confirmation of this opinion has recently been furnished by the investigations of Prof. J. P. Street (The Journal A. M. A., Feb. 20, 1915, p. 638) of several cod liver cordials, one of which (Vinol) like Stearns’ Wine, is described as a wine of cod liver extract with peptonate of iron.
Stearns’ Wine is essentially an alcoholic stimulant. It is not “a safe medicine for the young, middle-aged and old.” The unwarranted therapeutic claims and the recommendations for its indiscriminate use bring it into conflict with Rules 4 and 6. The Council voted that Stearns’ Wine be held ineligible for inclusion in N. N. R.—(From Reports of Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, 1915, p. 177.)