Tri-Iodides (Henry Pharmacal Co., St. Louis) is a nostrum whose ingredients apparently were selected at random. Since the effects of such a mixture cannot be predicted, no thoughtful physician would think of prescribing in any one condition all the drugs named in the formula of Tri-Iodides—if he had to write out the prescription. Yet because the misleading name of the preparation gives it the semblance of a therapeutic entity—and because it is advertised in medical journals—a certain number of physicians thoughtlessly prescribe this shotgun mixture.
LABORATORY REPORT
Regarding the composition of “Tri-Iodides” the Association’s Chemical Laboratory makes the following report:
A trade package of Henry’s Tri-Iodides purchased in 1910 bore the following formula on the label:
“Colchicin, 1-20 grain,
“Phytolaccin, 1-10 grain,
“Solanin, 1-3 grain,
“Sodium Salicylate, C. P., 10 grains,
“Iodic Acid (equal to 7⁄32 gr. of Iodine)
in two fluid drachms of Aromatic Cordial.”
In the circular which was wrapped with the bottle the wording of the formula differs somewhat from the foregoing, “iodic acid” of the label being replaced by “hydro-iodic acid.” While the label on the bottle named “phytolaccin” as one of the constituents the label on the carton which contained the bottle gave “decandrin.” The following formula appears on a trade package purchased June, 1914:
“Colchicine, 1-200 Grain,
“Phytolacca, 1 1-5 Grain,
“Mydriatic Alkaloids, 1-500 Grain.
“Sodium Salicylate, 3 1-2 Grain.
“Iodic Acid (equal to 7-125 Grain of Iodine)
in two fluid drachms.”
The differences between the formulas are striking. Colchicin has been reduced from 1⁄20 grain to 1⁄200 grain; sodium salicylate from 10 grains to 31⁄2 grains; iodin (claimed to be present as iodic acid) from 7⁄32 grain to 7⁄125 grain. “Phytolaccin” (“Decandrin”) has been replaced by “Phytolacca” and “Solanin” by “Mydriatic Alkaloids.” While the formula for the preparation has been changed, the circular accompanying the package still refers to “solanin” (in some parts of the circular wrongly spelled “salonin”) and “phytolaccin.” As no principle having the characteristic effects of poke-root is known to have been isolated the terms “decandrin” and “phytolaccin” are meaningless.
The circular states that solanin is an alkaloid obtained from the sprouts of Solanum tuberosum, but wrongly calls this plant “bittersweet” instead of potato. At the market price the amount of solanin claimed, according to the old formula, to be present in a bottle of Tri-Iodides, would cost $1.60, although a bottle of the preparation sold at wholesale for 67 cents.
Tri-Iodides is a dark brown, mobile liquid having a faint clove-like odor and a mawkish, sweet taste. Salicylate was found in considerable amounts. Traces of alkaloids were found, a portion of which appeared to be colchicin. Iodic acid and its salts were absent, although claimed by the formula to be present. Potassium iodid was present. Determinations of the iodin by distillation with ferric ammonium sulphate solution and sulphuric acid indicated the presence of about 1.68 gm. of iodin (equivalent to 2.18 gm. of potassium iodid) in each 100 c.c. of the preparation. This is equivalent to about 7.65 grains of iodin per fluidounce, or more than thirty-four times the amount claimed by the formula on the bottle. An approximate determination of the salicylic acid by extraction of the acidified preparation with ether and evaporation of the solvent indicated about 2.67 gm. in 100 c.c., equivalent to 3.09 gm. of sodium salicylate, or about 14.11 grains per fluidounce. Since the amount of sodium salicylate claimed is 3.5 grains in 2 fluidrams or 14 grains in each fluidounce, the amount found agrees essentially with the claims.