The estimated cost of 135 grains is one-twentieth of a penny.
POMIES’ ANTI-CATARACT MIXTURE.
This application is sold from a place called an Ophthalmic Institution in London at the price of 2s. 6d. for a pot containing 162 grains.
It is one of a series of preparations sold under the name “Pomies,” including anti-cataract oil, anti-inflammation eye lotions Nos. 1 and 2, sedative collyrium, and others. The package itself was singularly free from printed matter; the directions on the label were as follows:
“Take some of the Mixture on a camelhair brush and introduce it into the eye in wiping the brush between the lids two or three times, twice a day.”
Analysis showed the composition of the substance to be:
| Potassium iodide | 5·6 | per cent. |
| Glycerine | 56·5 | ” |
| Starch | 6·4 | ” |
| Water | 31·5 | ” |
The estimated cost of the ingredients, for 162 grains, is one-third of a penny.
SOME GERMAN NOSTRUMS.
The eye preparations analysed by Dr. Zernik are not very interesting. One called Okterin is a sulphate water, colourless, odourless, acid, and astringent, apparently pumped out of a mine containing ochre. Another sold under the name Opthalmol, and described as a natural remedy for all kinds of eye disease is supposed to be made from the glands of a fish. It yielded analytical data which appeared to prove that it was rancid olive oil, with 6 or 7 per cent. of a mineral oil like paraffin. A third wonder-working application, Augenwol, said to be made from various plants obtained from many countries proved to be a coloured and perfumed solution of common salt containing a little glycerine and some extractive substances.