The report of the Council, the letter from the Mulford Company and that of Dr. Townsend were sent to a number of urologists for their opinion concerning this whole matter. It was explained that the referee held that no reason had been presented which would warrant the Council to depart from its customary procedure, namely, to require that clinical evidence be submitted in the form of published reports which permit investigation and verification by independent observers but that, before making further recommendation to the Council, he desired the opinion of urologists of recognized standing concerning the report submitted to the Mulford Company. All replies received approved the Council’s position.
The following is one of the replies received:
Your letter in regard to Normal Phenol Serum (Cano) and Methyl-Phenol Serum (Cano) received. I wish to state that I have read the correspondence between the Council and H. K. Mulford Co. and in my opinion the referee and the Council are quite correct in their attitude in the matter. In my opinion I would emphasize the following:
(1) There is absolutely nothing about the remedies directed specifically against the gonococcus and no evidence to show that any action against them is obtained. As we know there are certain states of normal serum which are highly toxic and any normal serum from another animal will produce disturbances in man when injected intravenously—particularly if repeated. The addition of substances to serum normal or otherwise is apt to and frequently does render that serum highly toxic! The substances added in the instances referred to—phenol and methylene blue are not in any way calculated to lessen the toxicity of serum. The element of danger existing in the indiscriminate use of serums intravenously is, in my opinion, increased by the addition of the substances mentioned, and it would be unwise to encourage the general use of any such remedies. Furthermore the products are condemned by the very evidence of the originators and their admissions are quite sufficient to deter anyone from using the products as they suggest.
As to the intraprostatic injections with the serums it does not at all meet my views; although the introduction of serums by this route have been frequently advocated and I have personally carried this mode out I cannot allow the impression to go out that it could be done in a routine manner—nor that no ill results could follow—for I have seen otherwise. Furthermore from theoretical standpoint serums need not be given in this way.
In consideration of the opinion expressed by the Council’s consultants the referee recommended that Normal Phenol Serum (Cano) and Methyl-Phenol Serum (Cano) be declared ineligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies because of conflict with Rule 6 (unwarranted therapeutic claims) without considering possible conflicts with other rules, and that publication of the report be authorized.—(From Reports of Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, 1919, p. 85.)
SOAMIN OMITTED FROM N. N. R.
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Soamin is the name under which the firm of Burroughs Wellcome and Company sells its brand of sodium arsanilate. The Council directed the omission of Soamin from New and Nonofficial Remedies and authorized publication of the report which appears below after the proprietors of the product had declined to withdraw or suitably revise the unwarranted therapeutic claims which it made.