More than a decade ago the late Dr. Cyrus Edson, then Health Com­mis­sion­er for New York City and New York State, rec­og­niz­ing the value of chem­ical­ly pure Acet­anil­idum as a thera­peu­tic agent, if it could be de­prived of its de­pres­sant qual­ity, em­ployed his great fa­cil­ities for chem­ical re­search and op­por­tun­ities for chem­ical ex­peri­ment for the pur­pose of pro­duc­ing a for­mula for a com­bin­ation of Stimu­lant Am­mo­nia of coal-tar origin and chem­ical­ly pure Phenyl­aceta­mide, also a coal-tar product. These two chem­icals com­bine under cer­tain con­di­tions so as to ob­tain a pro­duct which he named Phe­nal­gin or Am­mo­ni­ated Phenyl­aceta­mide.

There is more of the same character. In the first place, we call attention to the fact that “Phenylacetamide” is substituted for “Acetanilidum” when it is to go into Phenalgin. To mystify is one of the “tricks of the trade.” Few physicians keep up with chemical terms and, therefore, are not supposed to know that Phenylacetamide is one of the chemical names for Acetanilid.

The reference here to Dr. Cyrus Edson brings up another fact, and that is that the Etna Chemical Company tries to convey the idea that Dr. Edson was the originator of Phenalgin. We have always understood that Dr. Cyrus Edson had something to do with pushing Ammonol and, if we remember rightly, got into some trouble thereby. We do not know the exact facts, but the following letter shows that he had a leaning toward another “ammoniated phenylacetamid.” The letter is dated “New York, Oct. 6, 1894,” and is addressed to the “Ammonol Chemical Company.”

“During the past six or eight months I have used Ammonol extensively in my private practice. I have found it excellent in the treatment of neuralgias and for rheumatism. I have also verified your statement in two cases that were suffering from alcoholism. My experience justifies me in saying that it is the safest and best of the analgesic coal-tar derivatives.

“Very truly yours,
Cyrus Edson, M.D.”

It may be of interest to know that the principal member of the firm of the Etna Chemical Company was at one time a member of the Ammonol Company, and it is usually understood, we believe, that Phenalgin is practically the same as Ammonol—​in fact, the analyses published regarding the two preparations show this to be a fact.

We must make one more quotation:

It makes little difference to a physician whether Phenalgin is a mixture or a compound or a synthetic, with a name that would destroy the orthographic balance of the universe, provided it is just what he has always found it to be.

Very complimentary to the intelligence and common sense of physicians, is it not?