Qualitative tests showed a presence of phosphate, citrate, nitrate, sodium, glycerin, and a small amount of lithium in aqueous solution. Besides these a small amount of some organic, nonalkaloidal substance was found, which from its bitter taste suggested gentian. From the qualitative tests it appeared that the phosphate was the predominating ingredient and accordingly a phosphate determination was made. The results, calculated to sodium phosphate, U. S. P., indicated the presence of 64.20 gm. per 100 c.c., held in solution by citric acid and sodium nitrate.
Uricsol evidently is a solution containing a large amount of sodium phosphate with small amounts of lithium, nitrate, citric acid and glycerin, with probably some vegetable extract.
In general Uricsol is similar to the once widely exploited proprietary “Melachol,” which has been frequently imitated. A preparation essentially identical is in the United States Pharmacopeia, under the title “Compound Solution of Sodium Phosphate.”
The Uricsol Company calls its preparation
“... the latest word in the treatment of Rheumatism and that allied group of ailments which is caused by an excess of Uric Acid.”
Hay fever, bronchial asthma and neuritis are conditions in which it is recommended. The claim is made that
“Uricsol quickly controls Vasomotor Rhinitis and eliminates such conditions from the system.” “In fact, it will correct FAULTY METABOLISM.”
To a few practitioners of an older generation the pharmacologic basis of a remedy for rheumatism was sufficiently defined by saying that it increased the solubility of uric acid or affected it in some way. This theory is obsolete; there is not, and never was, any reliable evidence on which to base the theory that rheumatism is in any way caused by uric acid. The exploitation of Uricsol as a “uric acid solvent” is merely another illustration of the way in which nostrum manufacturers play on disproved theories. Of course the claim that sodium phosphate has any particular power to control vasomotor rhinitis, hay fever, asthma, and to correct faulty metabolism is foolish.
To summarize: Uricsol is a mixture of well-known drugs, marketed with false claims as to therapeutic action, with misleading and meaningless statements as to composition and under a name which invites uncritical prescribing. Uricsol is held ineligible to inclusion in New and Nonofficial Remedies.