Tuberculosis is a widespread disease and a majority of the uninformed are only too willing and ready to try such a “cure.” The preparations appear to be nothing more than concentrated solutions of sugar. It is probable that a small amount of the cane sugar might be inverted to glucose and fructose, but experiments have shown that cane sugar subcutaneously administered in the small amounts used in this instance is largely excreted in the urine unchanged. Less is known about galactose, but the evidence available would indicate that galactose is largely excreted in the urine unchanged when given subcutaneously. Glucose would be absorbed as such, and in the amounts under consideration, used by the system much the same as when given by mouth.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Aug. 21, 1920.)
SUPSALVS NOT ADMITTED TO N. N. R.
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
The Council has authorized publication of the following report declaring Supsalvs (Anglo-French Drug Company) inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
Supsalvs are advertised by the Anglo-French Drug Company as “stable suppositories of ‘606’ (of French manufacture)” with the claim that by the rectal administration of these suppositories the effects of arsphenamine may be obtained. The asserted efficacy of Supsalvs medication is based in part on the claim that for these suppositories an excipient was found which mixes with the cocoa butter base “to form an assimilable emulsion.”
“The active principle and the vehicle being bound to one another, the mucous membrane is able to absorb both simultaneously and progressively in the form of an organic emulsion.”
As no information was furnished the Council by the Anglo-French Drug Company on the origin or quality of the arsphenamine used in the preparation of Supsalvs or the character of the vehicle which was “bound” to the arsphenamine in such a way as to permit the absorption of this combination in the form of an “organic emulsion,” the firm was requested to furnish: (1) Evidence that the arsphenamine used in Supsalvs complies with the N. N. R. standards and that deterioration of it does not occur in the preparation of the suppositories or on keeping. (2) The identity of the ingredients composing the suppository.
The Anglo-French Drug Company did not supply the requested evidence and consequently the Council judged the preparation on the basis of the information received from the company, and that contained in the available advertising and circulars. It found Supsalvs inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies, first because the quality of the medicament contained in the suppositories has not been established, and second because the claimed efficacy of this preparation as a means of securing the effects of arsphenamine lacks substantiating proof.