“I used Kora-Konia in a new born case of inherited syphilis and the eruption soon cleared up.”
Germicidal powers are claimed for Kora Konia in a medical journal advertisement. In view of the various claims made and the fact that it is advertised to the medical profession, the Chemical Laboratory of the American Medical Association was asked to analyze Kora-Konia. This was done and the chemists reported as follows:
LABORATORY REPORT
Kora-Konia is a white powder, slightly greasy to the touch. Qualitative tests showed the presence of boric acid, zinc, magnesium, a solid fatty acid and material insoluble in hydrochloric acid containing magnesium and aluminum. Starch was not found. Quantitative determinations gave the following results:
| Acid-insoluble material (talc) | 48.3 per cent. |
| Magnesium (Mg++) soluble in dilute acid | 1.2 per cent. |
| Zinc (Zn++) | 4.5 per cent. |
| Stearic acid (impure) | 39.2 per cent. |
| Boric acid | 3.0 per cent. |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | 1.5 per cent. |
From this analysis it is concluded that Kora-Konia has essentially the following composition:
| Zinc stearate U. S. P. | 44 per cent. |
| Talc | 48 per cent. |
| Magnesium carbonate U. S. P. | 5.0 per cent. |
| Boric acid | 3.0 per cent. |
Essentially this dusting powder consists of the well-known substances talc and zinc stearate in about equal proportions to which small quantities of magnesium carbonate and boric acid have been added. Inasmuch as the claim is made, by inference at least, that Kora-Konia represents original investigation carried out “with the cooperation of the medical profession” it should be stated that the preparation of commercial zinc stearate was described and recommended as a dusting and toilet powder nearly twenty-five years ago.[96]
There is nothing new or original in any one of these substances or in the combination. The extravagant and unwarranted claims made for this simple dusting powder are undoubtedly leading the public as well as some thoughtless physicians, to place undeserved confidence in it. In view of the small amount of boric acid present in the powder, its antiseptic powers must be slight and its germicidal powers almost nil. The Council declared Kora-Konia ineligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies and authorized publication of this report.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Sept. 30, 1916.)