The directions on the label were as follows:
Each bottle contains an equal number of full doses (large tablet) and half doses (small tablet).
Take regularly one full dose (large tablet) dissolved in plain or soda water within 30 minutes after each of the first three meals on the first day. Next day take one half dose (small tablet) dissolved in plain or soda water within 30 minutes after each of the three meals. Third day take full doses again; and so continue alternating.
Although it is here clearly conveyed, without directly making the statement, that the large and small tablets only differ in being full doses and half doses respectively, examination showed their composition to be different, and it was necessary to analyse them separately.
Large Tablets.
The large tablets had an average weight of 58 grains; analysis showed them to contain an effervescing mixture of sodium bicarbonate and tartaric acid, in which the former was in excess, so that the resulting product was alkaline, together with sodium chloride (common salt), phenolphthalein, formamine (hexamethylene-tetramine), talc, and gum. The quantity of each of the ingredients was determined as accurately as possible, with the results given below; it will be noted that these quantities add up to 101·4 instead of 100, the reason being that the whole of the soda is for convenience represented as bicarbonate, whereas a portion of it had become converted to carbonate by loss of carbon dioxide.
| In One Tablet. | ||||
| Sodium bicarbonate | 62·0 | per cent. | 38·9 | grains. |
| Tartaric acid | 22·6 | ” | 13·1 | ” |
| Sodium chloride | 6·5 | ” | 3·8 | ” |
| Phenolphthalein | 2·0 | ” | 1·2 | ” |
| Formamine | 3·5 | ” | 2·0 | ” |
| Talc | 2·8 | ” | ||
| Gum about | 2·0 | ” | ||
Hexamethylene-tetramine or formamine, is perhaps better known by its trade names—urotropine, cystamin, urisol, etc.; it does not appear to have been described as of value for obesity.
Small Tablets.
The small tablets had an average weight of 34·3 grains. Analysis showed them to contain sodium bicarbonate and tartaric acid, but in this case the latter was in excess and the product acid; the other ingredients were sodium chloride, phenolphthalein, and talc. The results of quantitative determinations indicated the following formula (more carbon dioxide had been lost in this case; the figures add up to 108·5, the reason being that given above):