“For a period of at least three years in my hospital, dispensary and private practice, I conscientiously tried out most of the balsamics on the market (including Gonosan, which I favored for some time) both alone, and combined with local injections. As a result of this study, I have come to the conclusion that the balsamics have little, if any value in the treatment of gonorrhea. During the past few years I have relied almost entirely on local therapy, and seldom prescribed any of the balsams in my private practice, certainly in not more than 5 per cent. of the cases. My results I find are just as satisfactory, and my patients appreciate the fact that they are not loaded up with disagreeable medication. Instead of the balsamics, I am using sodium bicarbonate more and more, and feel convinced that the proper use of this drug is of more value than all of them combined.”
Dr. K., Cal., wrote:
“The statement that the combined treatment with local injections and internal administration of natural balsamic products completely eliminates modern gonorrheal therapy, would at present not be justifiable even with reference to the initial or acute stage of gonorrhea, while in the subacute and chronic forms of the disease local injections and balsams play an almost insignificant rôle as compared with various other recognized therapeutic measures.”—(From The Journal A. M. A., Oct. 13, 1917).
ALCRESTA IPECAC
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
The Council has adopted the following report and authorized its publication.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
In 1915 Alcresta Ipecac Tablets (Eli Lilly and Co.) were admitted to New and Nonofficial Remedies as a preparation of ipecac that is insoluble in the stomach but soluble in the intestines. It was supposed that this property would permit the administration of ipecac without the accompanying nausea and vomiting, and that this would be of especial advantage when using the drug in amebic dysentery. The systemic effects, of course, would be those of ipecac.
More recently, the manufacturers of Alcresta Ipecac have been advising its use in conditions which were not contemplated by the Council when the preparation was accepted for New and Nonofficial Remedies. They now claim that ipecac alkaloids have been shown to be useful in the treatment of typhoid fever, flatulence, diarrhea and constipation and that Alcresta Ipecac has these properties. Such a statement is misleading. While it is true that at one time ipecac was used promiscuously against “flatulence, diarrhea and constipation” there never has been and is not now any scientific evidence of its efficiency in such conditions except, of course, in diarrhea of the amebic type. As to the alleged usefulness of ipecac in typhoid fever: This has not even the sanction of tradition and the claim certainly should not be accepted until there is strong evidence to support it.