“ANTI-PNEUMOCOCCIC OIL” AND THE USE OF CAMPHOR IN PNEUMONIA

Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry

The Council has adopted and authorized publication of the report which appears below. This report declares “Anti-Pneumo­coccic Oil” (a solution of camphor in oil sold by Eimer and Amend, New York) ineligible for New and Non­official Remedies because (1) the recommendations for its use in pneumonia are not warranted by the evidence, (2) the name is not descriptive of its composition but is thera­peutically suggestive, and (3) the sale of a solution of camphor in oil under a name nondescriptive of its composition is unscientific and a hindrance to therapeutic progress.

W. A. Puckner, Secretary.

The Council having decided to consider Anti-Pneumo­coccic Oil (Eimer and Amend, New York), the preparation was assigned to the Committee on Therapeutics for report. The report that follows was made by a member of this committee:

According to the advertising, Anti-Pneumo­coccic Oil is a “twenty-five per cent. solution of camphor in a thin oil” which was “originated” by August Seibert, M.D. The following directions are given for its use:

“10 c.c. (150 minims) to every 100 pounds of body weight, to be injected hypodermically every eight to twelve hours in pneumo­coccic pneumonia, as soon after the initial chill as possible.”

It is claimed that the prescribed dose one hour before general anesthesia begins, “safeguards against postoperative pneumonia,” and, that “animals can so be immunized against later and otherwise fatal intravenous pneumo­coccic infection (Boehnke, Institute for Experimental Therapy, Frankfort).” The advice is given:

“In pneumo­coccic meningitis, endocarditis and pleuritis, 3% of salicylic acid should be added to this oil.”