| Wm. S. Merrell Chemical Company | ||
| “DIGESTIVE AROMATIC, 5 GRAINS” | ||
“Pepsin | 80 | parts |
“Pancreatin | 10 | parts |
“Diastase | 1 | part |
“Acid Lactic | 1 | part |
“Acid Hydrochloric | 3 | parts |
“Aromatic Powder | 5 | parts” |
Calculation shows that each tablet should contain about 0.0031 gm. of absolute hydrochloric acid. The analysis indicated that each tablet contains about 0.0030 gm. hydrochloric acid (absolute HCl) in protein combination, or practically the amount claimed. One pharmacopeial dose of hydrochloric acid is contained in 35 of the tablets.
| Parke, Davis & Company | ||
| “DIGESTIVE AROMATIC” | ||
“Saccharated Pepsin | 4 | grains |
“Pure Pancreatin | 1 | grain |
“Diastase | 1⁄4 | grain |
“Aromatic Powder | 1⁄4 | grain |
| “Lactic Acid. | ||
| “Hydrochloric Acid. | ||
| “Dose: 1 to 3 tablets.” | ||
Chlorid is present in small amounts, but quantitative examination indicated that hydrochloric acid, either free or in protein combination is absent. An ammonium salt is present in small quantities.
| Sharp & Dohme | ||
| “DIGESTIVE AROMATIC” | ||
“Pepsin, Sacch., U. S. P. | 4 | grains |
“Pancreatin, pure | 1 | grain |
“Diastase | 1⁄4 | grain |
“Aromatic Powder | 1⁄4 | grain |
“Lactic Acid | q. s.” | |
“Hydrochloric Acid | q. s.” | |
Small quantities of chlorid are present. Quantitative examination indicated that hydrochloric acid in protein combination is present only in very small amounts, each tablet containing but about 0.00034 gm. of absolute acid, or about 0.34 per cent. of the pharmacopeial dose. Ammonia is absent. Inasmuch as more than 300 of these tablets would be required to furnish a pharmacopeial dose of hydrochloric acid, this firm’s interpretation of the expression “q. s.” would prove interesting.
| Truax, Greene & Company |
| “SYNERGIA” |
“Synergia” is claimed to be composed of “pepsin, pancreatin, veg. diastase, lactic acid, hydrochloric acid and aromatics; dose, 1 to 3 tablets.” The specimen contained no hydrochloric acid, either free or in protein combination. A trace of ammonia and small quantities of chlorid were found.
| The Fraske Tablet Company | ||
“Pepsin Sacch. | 80 | parts |
“Pancreatin, Pure | 10 | parts |
“Diastase | 1 | part |
“Lactic Acid | 1 | part |
“Hydrochloric Acid | 3 | parts |
“Aromatic Powder | 6 | parts |
| “Dose: 1 to 2 tablets. | ||
| “Each tablet represents (5) grains of the above mixture.” | ||
According to the formula hydrochloric acid (31.9 per cent. absolute HCl) represents 3 parts in 101 of the preparation from which the tablets are made. Each tablet (containing 5 grains of the mixture) should have 0.00307 gm. absolute hydrochloric acid. Analysis showed that each tablet contains hydrochloric acid in protein combination equivalent to an average of 0.003066 gm. absolute hydrochloric acid, or essentially the amount claimed. It would be necessary to give 34 tablets to administer a pharmacopeial dose of hydrochloric acid.