In view of the Laboratory’s report, the referee recommended that the acceptance of Xeroform-Heyden and Bismuth Tri­brom­phenate-Merck be withdrawn, without prejudice to their reinstatement when satisfactory products are again offered for sale. The Council adopted the recommendation of the referee, and accordingly Xeroform-Heyden and Bismuth Tri­brom­phenate-Merck are omitted from New and Non­official Remedies, 1919.

When the Laboratory’s findings with regard to Xeroform-Heyden and the action of the Council deleting the article from New and Non­official Remedies was reported to the Heyden Chemical Works, the firm expressed regret that efforts to produce a product equal to that formerly obtained from Germany had so far not been successful and announced that it had decided to withdraw Xeroform-Heyden from the market for the present.

When Merck and Company was advised in regard to the report of the Laboratory and the Council’s action, this firm questioned the feasibility of producing a product meeting the Council’s standards and suggested that the test for free tri­brom­phenol be revised to permit as much as 15 per cent. of this constituent. When Merck and Company was reminded that its product, submitted in 1915, essentially complied with the adopted standards and that the estimate of the therapeutic value of bismuth tri­brom­phenate is based on a product essentially free from alcohol-soluble material, the firm replied:

“As stated in our letter of the 12th inst. we do not wish to market the chemical unless it meets all legitimate requirements of the physicians that use it. If, therefore, your standard proves to be good and it is commercially possible to make supplies conforming to it, we shall do so. We shall discontinue the article unless it is of suitable quality.”

—(From Reports of Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, 1918, p. 76.)

CREAM OF MUSTARD REFUSED RECOGNITION

Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry

Cream of Mustard, The Cream of Mustard Co., South Norwalk, Conn., is said to be made by mixing 2 drachms of oil of mustard and 2 drachms of oil of turpentine with one pound of white petrolatum. According to the label it is “for Tonsillitis, Rheumatism, Sore Muscles, Croup, Pleurisy, Frosted Feet, Sore Throat, Neuralgia, Sprains, Bronchitis, Headache, Chilblains, Stiff Neck, Congestion, Bruises, Asthma, Lumbago, Pains and Aches, Colds in Chest.”

The Council refused recognition to Cream of Mustard: