Systemic Administration.—The bleeding from an irrigated wound was not modified directly by intravenous injection of cotarnin salts, but varied merely with the state of the blood pressure.
The evidence for the inefficiency of cotarnin salts as hemostatics seemed so conclusive as to warrant the Council in rescinding the acceptance of Styptol, and directing the omission of the general article on cotarnin salts and the description of Styptol from New and Nonofficial Remedies.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Nov. 22, 1919)
MICAJAH’S WAFERS AND MICAJAH’S SUPPOSITORIES
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
“Micajah’s Medicated Wafers” and “Micajah’s Suppositories,” sold by Micajah & Co., Warren, Pa., are declared inadmissible to “New and Nonofficial Remedies” because (1) their composition is essentially secret (Rule 1); (2) name of neither of these mixtures is indicative of its composition (Rule 8); (3) of exaggerated and unwarranted therapeutic claims (Rule 6), and (4) the therapeutic advice which accompanies the trade packages constitutes an indirect advertisement to the public (Rule 4).
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
Micajah’s Medicated Wafers (formerly called “Micajah’s Medicated Uterine Wafers”) were analyzed in the A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory in 1910. They were found to consist essentially of dried (“burnt”) alum, boric acid and borax, in approximately the following proportions:
| Alum, dried | 59.86 per cent. |
| Borax, dried | 15.62 per cent. |
| Boric acid | 5.67 per cent. |
| Water of hydration | 18.85 per cent. |
There are a number of drugs that are more or less effective in the treatment of local lesions of mucous membranes and the skin. They are classed as astringents. Among these are included alum, borax and boric acid. Every physician has used them. To say that a wafer consists of alum, borax and boric acid inspires but little awe. But there is something much more mysterious and impressive in declaring that a wafer “consists of an astringent and antiseptic base, in which are incorporated certain medicaments which both locally and after absorption, contribute to the astringent, antiphlogistic, depletive, soothing and healing action of the product.” This gives the impression that some powerful and almost incomprehensible factors are at work. Yet, after all is said and done, the substances contained in Micajah’s Medicated Wafers are just the homely old alum, boric acid and borax.