The literature supplied to physicians claims its composition to be: “Parts, sod. bor., 50; alumen, 50; ac. carbol., 5; glycerin, 5; the cryst. principles of thyme, 5; eucalyptus, 5; gaultheria, 5, and mentha, 5.”
The composition, therefore, might be expressed as follows:
| Sodium borate (borax) | 50 parts, or | 38.46 | per cent. |
| Alum | 50 parts, or | 38.46 | per cent. |
| Phenol (carbolic acid) | 5 parts, or | 3.85 | per cent. |
| Glycerin | 5 parts, or | 3.85 | per cent. |
| Thymol | 5 parts, or | 3.85 | per cent. |
| Oil of eucalyptus or eucalyptol | 5 parts, or | 3.85 | per cent. |
| Oil of gaultheria (or methyl salicylate) | 5 parts, or | 3.85 | per cent. |
| Menthol | 5 parts, or | 3.85 | per cent. |
Analysis of specimens purchased from different sources in the open market were made under our direction. The reports of the chemists show that Tyree’s antiseptic powder contains no borax, or mere traces only, and that it contains no alum, or mere traces only. Instead, the analyses show that boric acid and zinc sulphate are the essential constituents. The amounts of carbolic acid, thymol, menthol, etc., contained in the powder, if present, were far below the quantities indicated by the formula. The presence of glycerin could not be demonstrated, and, if present, the amount must be very small.
One chemist reports: The result of analysis shows that different samples differ slightly in composition, but that the following indicates the average composition of the product:
| Per Cent. | |
Zinc sulphate, anhydrous | 15.56 |
Boric acid | 81.26 |
Volatile matter at 100° C. for four hours | 0.45 |
The undetermined portion consists of salicylic acid, carbolic acid, menthol and eucalyptol; possibly other antiseptic agents may be present in very minute quantities.
From the above findings we conclude that Tyree’s antiseptic powder is a mixture of boric acid and dried zinc sulphate and antiseptic bodies, such as menthol, salicylic acid and carbolic acid, eucalyptol, etc. From this it can be readily seen that the label, which is supposed to set forth the composition of Tyree’s antiseptic powder, is not in accord with the facts. The powder does not contain either borate of sodium or alum, and the presence of glycerin could not be established. The antiseptic agents, exclusive of the boric acid, are present only in small amounts.
The report of another analysis concludes as follows:
It evidently contains less than the amount stated of the principles of thyme, eucalyptus, wintergreen and mint. It also contains a very small amount indeed of carbolic acid, much less than that stated. We have been unable to identify certainly the presence of glycerin, and it is doubtful if it be present.