“Veracolate (plain).”—For this the following non-quantitative formula is given:
“A compound containing the bile acids, sodium glycocholate, sodium taurocholate with cascara sagrada and phenolphthalein.”
The dose is three tablets. Examination in the Chemical Laboratory of the American Medical Association of a specimen of “Veracolate (plain)” indicated that there was about 20 mg. (1⁄3 grain) of phenolphthalein to each tablet. One dose, therefore (three tablets), would contain 1 grain of phenolphthalein—an average dose.
“Veracolate with Pepsin and Pancreatin.”—The following “formula” is given for this mixture:
| “Veracolate | 11⁄4 | grain |
| “Pure Pancreatin | 1 | grain |
| “Pepsin aseptic (1:3,000) | 1⁄2 | grain |
| “Oil peppermint | 1⁄10 | min.” |
(Note the presence of two mutually incompatible digestive ferments.)
“Veracolate with Iron, Quinine and Strychnine.”—This is stated to have the following “formula”:
| “Veracolate | 11⁄8 | grain |
| “Reduced Iron | 1 | grain |
| “Quinine Sulphate | 3⁄8 | grain |
| “Strychnine Sulphate | 1⁄100 | grain” |
It will be noticed that these mixtures increase in complexity until a combination of seven diverse ingredients, a veritable shotgun mixture, is evolved. In none of the “formulas” are the proportions of the purgative drugs in Veracolate stated. In the second “formula,” the digestants might as well be omitted, for the pancreatin is destroyed by peptic digestion and hence cannot pass the stomach while the pepsin is useless without hydrochloric acid, and, at any rate, of no value in the intestine. If one is indicated, the other is not. Yet this unscientific and complex combination of purgatives, mutually incompatible digestive ferments, and oil of peppermint is called:
“A scientific Blending of Digestive Ferments, Cholagogues and Carminatives.”