“ ‘Concerning Digifolin-Ciba, A New Preparation of Digitalis,’ by C. Hartung, M.D., Ph.D. Extracts from the work ‘Ueber Digifolin, Ein Neues Digitalis-Praeparat’ in the Munich Medical Weekly, No. 36, page 1944, 1912.”
“ ‘Digitoxin Contents of Digifolin-Ciba,’ by C. Hartung, M.D., Ph.D., Basle, Switzerland. Reprints from the Pharmaceutical Post, 1913. No. 34, page 357. No. 40, page 431.”
“ ‘Pharmacological Tests of Digitalis,’ by M. J. Chevalier, Chef Des Travaux Pratiques de Pharmacologie et Matiere Medicale, Faculte De Medecine De Paris. Report Presented to the Societe de Therapeutique at Their Meeting, May 28, 1913.”
In the reprint “Concerning Digifolin, ‘Ciba.’ ” Hartung lays stress on the presence of harmful and inert substances present in the leaf and galenical preparations with the direct or implied statement that digifolin has an advantage in that these are absent from it. This is misleading. It is true that Boehm whom Hartung cites, found saponin to be irritating, but Boehm states that it required 100 mg. per kilogram of body weight to induce vomiting after its oral administration. Furthermore, saponin is present in traces only in infusion of digitalis, so that the therapeutic dose contains a wholly negligible amount of it.
The following occurs in “Pharmacological Tests of Digitalis,” by M. J. Chevalier:
“Hartung’s Digifolin merits our attention, especially because it seems to possess all the pharmacodynamic properties of galenic preparations of digitalis without showing any of their disadvantages.”
This claim scarcely needs comment, since it is well established that the chief “disadvantages” of digitalis are inherent in the principles which produce the desired effects of digitalis and may be avoided to a large extent by a carefully regulated dosage of any digitalis preparation. In short, the advertising for Digifolin asserts that this digitalis preparation has all the advantages of digitalis itself, but none of its disadvantages. This claim has been refuted so frequently that manufacturers must be aware that it is untenable. Further the claims now made for Digifolin are essentially those made nearly four years ago at which time the attention of the American agent was called to their unwarranted character.
The Council declared Digifolin-Ciba inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies because the therapeutic claims advanced for it are misleading and unwarranted.—(From The Journal A. M. A., April 2, 1921.)