“Zymotoid is a concentrated chemical compound consisting of the solids and gases of sulphur, potassium nitrate, cinnamon and carbon held in a solution of boric acid.”
A specimen of Zymotoid was examined by our chemists and their report follows. As will be seen, it is simply another fraud of the Liquozone-Oxytonic-Septicide type.
LABORATORY REPORT ON ZYMOTOID
Zymotoid is a pale yellow liquid having a strong odor like sulphur dioxid. No odor suggestive of cinnamon was observed even after the sulphur dioxid had been fixed by the addition of an alkali. Qualitative tests indicated the presence of boric acid, sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxid and traces each, of a nitrate, potassium and some unidentified organic matter. Alkaloids, cinnamic acid, glycerin and soaps were absent. From the results of the quantitative examination it is concluded that the composition of Zymotoid is essentially as follows:[126]
| Boric acid (H3BO3) | 0.637 | gm. |
| Sulphur dioxid (SO2) | 0.129 | gm. |
| Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) | 0.048 | gm. |
| Potassium nitrate | trace | |
| Unidentified organic matter | trace | |
| Water (by difference) to make | 100 | c.c. |
The analysis shows that but for the presence of boric acid the composition of Zymotoid is similar to other fraudulent “microbe killers” which have been exploited in recent years and of which some have been declared misbranded by the federal government. For example, “Radam’s Microbe Killer”[127] was found by the federal chemists to be composed of water, containing small quantities of sulphur dioxid and sulphuric acid. “Liquozone,” another nostrum which was widely exploited a few years ago, is said to have a similar composition.[128] According to an analysis made at the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station,[129] “Oxytonic” has a similar composition. The nostrum “Septicide,” was found by the federal chemists to be composed of water with small quantities of sulphur dioxid, sulphuric acid and a trace of a nitrate.—(From The Journal A. M. A., April 6, 1912.)