Third, the letter submitted as evidence by the Mulford Company is not convincing. The Council is not prepared to accept evidence of this sort unless it is in volume large enough to justify a definite conclusion.
Holding that there is no evidence for the value of this mixture, the Council declared “Influenza Serobacterin Mixed-Mulford” inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies because its use is illogical.
Sherman’s Mixed Vaccine No. 40
Because of inquiry received the Council decided to consider this preparation and requested the manufacturer, G. H. Sherman, Detroit, Mich., to submit evidence in support of the claims made for it.
This vaccine is said to be made from killed cultures of Streptococcus, Pneumococcus, Micrococcus catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus albus. In the printed matter sent out by G. H. Sherman this vaccine is recommended for hay-fever, in which it is stated that some of the symptoms are due to bacterial invasion of the respiratory mucosa; for tonsillitis, both as a remedy and as a prophylactic against rheumatic and other sequelae; for “throat infections”; for rhinitis with the claims that acute coryza can be aborted within twenty-four hours; for pneumonia in which it is advised for all stages; for laryngitis, for bronchitis, and for asthma.
No acceptable evidence was submitted as to the value of the product in the treatment of any of the foregoing conditions. In view of what is known about non-specific reactions, it seems likely that any influence which this vaccine may have on the diverse conditions enumerated by the manufacturer, is due to this, rather than to the combination of organisms used in its preparation.
On the recommendation of the Committee on Serums and Vaccines, the Council declared “Sherman’s Mixed Vaccine No. 40” ineligible to New and Nonofficial Remedies because the therapeutic claims made for it are unwarranted (Rule 6) and because the combination, in view of its complexity, is irrational and detrimental to sound therapy (Rule 10).—(From The Journal A. M. A., June 23, 1918.)