“... Digestible nutrients in 100 pounds of Alfalfa,... Protein, 11.0 pounds; Carbohydrates, 39.6 pounds; Ether Extract, 1.2 pounds.”
“... The high value of Alfalfa is due to the amount of protein that it contains; to the large percentage of protein that is digestible and the palatability of Alfalfa.”
“... Table showing pounds of elements removed from the soil by one ton of crop.
| Alfalfa | Wheat | |
| Potash | 49.79 | 12.52 |
| Phosphoric Acid | 8.27 | 9.08 |
| Lime | 43.51 | 2.95 |
| Nitrogen | 44.01 | 22.30” |
“... The abundance of muscle and bone producing material in Alfalfa makes this crop especially good.”
Thus estimates of the value of a farm crop and cattle fodder are made to do service as testimonials to its therapeutic merit for human beings! Has the “patent medicine” promoter ever dared to insult the intelligence of his patrons by a cruder absurdity? Yet it is not to the nontechnical and unscientific public, but to a profession presumably scientifically trained in pharmacology and therapeutics that this concern presumes to offer its fodder tincture on the basis of testimony to the agricultural value of the fodder plant.
Alfatone is a worthless alcoholic cordial. The audacity of the attempt to promote its sale by a discourse on the merits of a well-known fodder plant is the sole reason for devoting any attention to it. It is recommended that Alfatone be held ineligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies, and that this report be published.
[Editorial Note.—What a comment on American medicine that a concern can even contemplate the possibility of making a commercial success of the sale of such a silly nostrum as Alfatone! And yet, when one remembers that a proprietary in which oats constitutes one ingredient (“Pas-Avena”) for years has been advertised to physicians and presumably prescribed by them, it is not altogether inexplicable that business men should get the impression that the medical profession is “easy” enough to “fall for” anything in the line of proprietary mixtures. Perhaps we may look forward to being offered proprietaries based on other cheap and well-known fodder plants. Tincture of Timothy Hay, Blue Grass Tonic, Cornhusk Wine! Why not? The enterprising companies that may put them out can easily publish tables to show the digestible nutrients in each and indubitable testimony can be furnished to prove the excellence of any of them as stock feed. If a pitchforkful of timothy hay makes a good fattening ration for a growing steer why should not a teaspoonful of tincture of timothy hay make a “reconstructive tonic and nutrient” dose for a man? If an arm load of thistles (carduus) makes a luscious food for equus asinus why should not a pinch of thistle in alcohol and water be a good “tonic”? Great are the possibilities! They are limited only by the gullibility of the medical profession and the public. Certain it is that some proprietary manufacturers are firmly convinced that no combination can be too preposterous to be worth trying on the medical profession.]—(From The Journal A. M. A., Aug. 7, 1915.)