SUKRO-SERUM AND APHLEGMATOL
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Two years ago, American newspapers contained accounts of an alleged cure for pulmonary tuberculosis “discovered” by Prof. Domenico Lo Monaco of Rome, Italy. At that time no reference to the “cure” could be found in medical journals which had come from Italy and other European countries (The Journal A. M. A., July 13, 1918, p. 142). Later, reports were published of experiments carried out in Italy, according to which the intramuscular injection of solutions of sugar (saccharose—cane sugar) diminished pulmonary secretion and was of considerable value in the treatment of tuberculosis (The Journal A. M. A., Sept. 28, 1918, p. 1083). On the whole the reports of the trial of what has been called the Italian Sugar Cure for Consumption have been unfavorable. At a meeting in Paris in October, 1918, Drs. Louis Rénon and Mignot reported that they had found that the disease in guinea-pigs was not modified by the treatment and with humans the results were also negative (Paris Letter, The Journal A. M. A., Nov. 23, 1918, p. 1760).
In view of the exploitation of this treatment in the United States by the Anglo-French Drug Co., which offers “Sukro-Serum,” and by G. Giambalvo & Co., which sells “Aphlegmatol,” and because of inquiries received, the Council has authorized publication of the statement which follows.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
A circular issued by the Anglo-French Drug Co., describes “Sukro-Serum” as a “Sterilized Solution of lacto-gluco-saccharose.” By reading the circular to the end, however, one learns that “Sukro-Serum” is not a “serum” in the ordinary sense but apparently it is a solution of ordinary sugar (sucrose). “Sukro-Serum is a sterilized, specially prepared solution of Saccharose.”
Sukro-Serum has been advertised (N. Y. Med. Jour., Sept. 6, 1919) as an “INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION FOR TUBERCULOSIS” “... ready for use in cases of Pulmonary and general Tuberculosis” with the assertion that “It is quite certain that in the near future Sukro-Serum will be largely used and its value fully recognized.” The circular received from the Anglo-French Drug Co. contains quotations from an article by Professor Lo Monaco in the British Medical Journal (Aug. 24, 1918) setting forth the merits of intramuscular injections of sucrose in tuberculosis. It is recommended that “Néocaine-Surrénine” (which the Anglo-French Drug Co. supplies) be used for the control of pain when Sukro-Serum is injected.
The circular enclosed with a package of “Aphlegmatol,” purchased from G. Giambalvo & Co., contained the following with reference to the composition of this preparation:
“A solution of Hydrats of Carbon After the formula of Prof. D. Lo Monaco, Director of the Institut of Physiological Chemistry of the University of Rome. Contents: Sucrose (C12H22O11) Glucose and Galactose (C6H12O6).”