“Will you inform me as to the contents of ‘Papine’? I have a case of chronic interstitial nephritis, and my consultant insists on giving this preparation. I asked him if he knew what drugs it contained and his answer was ‘one-eighth of a grain of morphin with the objectionable parts of the drug removed.’”
The query was referred to the Association Laboratory, which submitted the following report:
For many years Papine has been advertised by its makers, Battle & Company, St. Louis, as an anodyne. In the circulars Papine is described in part as follows:
“Papine represents in pharmaceutical form the purely anodyne principles of opium freed from the narcotic and tetanising constituents.”
“Papine is the anodyne or pain-relieving principle of opium, the narcotic and convulsive elements being eliminated. One fluid drachm is equal in anodyne power to one-eighth grain of morphin.”
“Through special methods of preparation, the anodyne and analgesic principles of Papaver somniferum are so extracted as to free them of the narcotic and convulsive elements that ever have been, and must ever continue to be serious objections to the use of opium and its common derivatives.... No demand is more regularly made on the physician than that for the relief of pain, and to be able to afford it promptly and completely, without the slightest deleterious action, is an advantage that cannot be overestimated.”
“Unlike most derivatives and preparations of opium, Papine neither nauseates nor constipates; nor does it inhibit the secretory functions of the body.”
“In conditions of extreme nervousness, especially in women, recourse to morphin is attended by the very real danger of the formation of a habit. Lastly, opium and its alkaloids must not be administered to persons whose kidneys are not in good working order on account of the risk of toxic accumulation.”
“No such restriction exists in respect of Papine, its action being exerted exclusively on the element pain; in other words, it is purely anodyne.”