PHECOLATES, PHECOLAX, PHECOZYMES AND PHECOTONES
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Phecolates, Phecolax, Phecozymes and Phecotones were submitted by F. Waldo Whitney, New York, with “literature” indicating that they are designed to form parts of a system of treatment founded on the theory of autotoxemia, which they are supposed to prevent by their action on the functions of the intestinal canal. The different preparations consist in the main of mixtures of well-known remedies. The basic preparation is Phecolates, which contains bile salts in combination with phenyl salicylates and benzo-naphthol in about one-eighth the regular doses and hence not likely to be of any real service. Since the proportions of these ingredients ought to be regulated by the physician according to the needs of the individual patient, they should not be combined in fixed proportions. The name is not so framed as to indicate the principal ingredients.
Phecolax contains, in addition to the ingredients of Phecolates, phenolphthalein and cascarin, of each one-half grain.
Phecozyme is made more complex than Phecolax by the introduction of additional phenyl salicylate and of pancreatin.
Phecotone contains ten ingredients.
Extravagant claims such as the following are made:
“Our Health is governed by our bowels; Our bowels are governed by our nerves; Our nerves are governed by our digestion; our digestion is governed by Phecolates.”
The Council voted to refuse recognition to Phecolates, Phecolax, Phecozymes and Phecotones as unscientific articles with objectionable names.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Nov. 21, 1914.)