These tablets are prepared by the E. L. Patch Co., Boston. Each tablet weighs 131⁄2 grs. They have the odor of thymol or menthol and an acid taste and reaction. They are, according to the label:
“For the throat and mouth. Soothing, Astringent, Antiseptic. Rapidly destroys germs of infection, preventing and relieving sore throat and mouth.”
In a circular, it is stated, that one of the qualities of Formitol:
“... is the generation of formaldehyde when in contact with water or the saliva.”
“Besides generating formaldehyde, Formitol, Patch contains astringent, demulcent and soothing ingredients which render the combination unusually effective.”
A bacteriologic report is given in this circular in which it is stated that, in 21⁄2 minutes one Formitol Tablet rendered sterile a plate culture of a “characteristic throat micrococci.” The instructions are to dissolve a tablet in the mouth, slowly, once an hour or a half-tablet every half hour.
The A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory reported that Formitol Tablets contained formaldehyde (or paraformaldehyde), and ammonium compound, and some hexamethylenamin. It is probable that the formaldehyde (or paraformaldehyde) was produced by the decomposition of hexamethylenamin originally present in the tablets but decomposed by long contact with the acid.[128]
These tablets differ from Hex-Iodin in that they really contain active formaldehyde and, therefore, possibly produce antiseptic effect in test-tube cultures. The conditions in the mouth, however, are very different from those in the test-tube, since in the mouth the formaldehyde would be immediately “bound” or absorbed. The claimed absence of irritation indicates sufficiently the absence of efficient quantities of formaldehyde under clinical conditions.