Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Rheumalgine (Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis) is put up both in tablet form and as a liquid. Each tablet, or teaspoonful of the liquid, is said to contain:
| “Strontium salicylate from Natural Oil | 5 gr. |
| Hexamethylenamin | 2 gr. |
| Colchicine | 1⁄200 gr.” |
The advertising matter contains several statements regarding the individual ingredients to which objection must be made.
It is claimed (quoting from Hare) that strontium salicylate
“... is not so disagreeable to the taste as the corresponding sodium salts, and more important still, it is far less apt to disorder the stomach.”
“Taste” is a difficult subject to dispute; but in the experience of the referee, patients object more to the strontium than to the sodium salt. No evidence is submitted to prove that the strontium salt is less apt to disorder the stomach. In observations made under the direction of the referee, the nauseant and emetic doses are about the same as, or even less than, those of sodium salicylate.
Under hexamethylenamin, the recommendations are not confined to its recognized use as a urinary antiseptic; it is also said to be “unexcelled” as a “germicide,” and to prevent the formation of urate and phosphate deposits. These statements are contrary to facts.
“Rheumalgine ... may be used in all cases where the salicylates are indicated. It is superior to preparations containing sodium salicylate, in that it does not cause nausea or disturb the digestion.”