“Tissue Phosphates is not a hypophosphite preparation; it is not a combination of glycerophosphates or other organic salts, or so-called peptonates and manganates, all recently condemned by the best therapeutic opinion here and in Europe, as much slower and less active than the simpler salts. The iron is the green, inorganic phosphite and the calcium the simple white phosphate of your early student days. Nature takes these simple salts and builds them rapidly into lecithin, bone, and other tissue, without the delay incurred by splitting up the organic salts before she can recombine them.”
“Tissue phosphates is in fact a chemical food.”
“The formula, suggested by Professor Dusart, of Paris, combines in an easily assimilable and agreeable cordial; medium medicinal doses of Phosphorus, the Generator of Nerve Force; Calcium Phosphate, for Cell Development and Nutrition; Sodium Phosphate, a stimulant of Liver and Pancreas and Corrective of Acid Fermentation in the Alimentary Canal; Iron, generating in the Blood, Heat and Motion, Phosphoric Acid, Tonic in Sexual Debility; Alkaloids of Calisaya, Antimalarial and Antipyretic; Extract of Wild Cherry, Tonic, yet Calming Irritation and Diminishing Nervous Excitement; Ethyl Alcohol 12.5%; and Aromatics.”
Although the claim is made that the “formula” of Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates has been “suggested by Professor Dusart,” such of Dusart’s papers as were available in this country[111] failed to disclose any “formula” that was at all comparable to this product.
[Editorial Note.—The investigation verifies facts that must be obvious to every physician who has given the matter thought. “Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates” is an unscientific, shotgun mixture whose most active and powerful drug is the alcohol it contains. That it was not years ago relegated to the realms of obsolete and discarded preparations is a commentary alike on the lack of scientific discrimination and the persuasive power of advertising. While in the past “Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates” has been advertised extensively in medical journals, it seems that now the chief, if not the only beneficiary of the advertising appropriation for this product is the New York Medical Journal, which weekly heralds the “Delicious” and “Sustaining” qualities of “The Ideal Tonic for Fastidious Convalescents.”]—(From The Journal A. M. A., May 5, 1917.)
THE CLAIMED GALACTAGOGUE EFFECTS OF NUTROLACTIS AND GOAT’S RUE NOT SUBSTANTIATED
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Specific lactagogues—drugs which stimulate the secretion of milk—are unknown to science. Yet medical publications give space to advertisements of a proprietary—“Nutrolactis”—which is said to increase the milk supply of nursing mothers. Since dependence on a preparation of this kind is likely to cause neglect of the only means of increasing a scanty milk supply of nursing mothers—care of the general health and a sufficient quantity of proper food—this proprietary and the drug “goat’s rue,” (Galega officinalis) which the proprietors hint as being the potent constituent, were subjected to a critical study to determine their possible influence on milk secretion. For this purpose the Council secured the help of A. J. Carlson, Ph.D., professor of physiology, University of Chicago. Dr. Carlson, with the aid of A. Woelfel, M.D., and Marian Lewis, Sc.M., undertook to estimate the effect of Nutrolactis and of goat’s rue on nursing dogs and goats with the intention of extending the study to nursing mothers if the animal experiments so warranted. The contribution, “The Alleged Galactagogue Action of Galega and Nutrolactis,” by Marian Lewis and A. J. Carlson from the Hull Physiological Laboratory of the University of Chicago, which appears below, shows that Nutrolactis and goat’s rue are without influence on the milk secretion in nursing animals.