The above findings indicate that each 100 c.c. contains about 7 c.c. of alcohol, 0.5 gram of zinc sulphate U. S. P. (ZnSO4+7H2O.), 0.03 gram of iodin, 0.01 gram of protein (calculated as such from nitrogen times the factor 6.36) and some hamamelis water. Expressed in equivalent apothecary terms, each fluidounce contains essentially:
| Zinc sulphate | 21⁄3 | grains |
| Iodin (free and combined) | 1⁄8 | grain |
| Protein | 1⁄25 | grain |
| Alcohol | 34 | minims |
This amount of alcohol is equivalent to about 31⁄2 fluidrams of witch hazel water. Although the label states that each fluidounce contains three grains of “proteo-albuminoid compound of iodine,” yet the sum of the protein (calculated from nitrogen content) and iodin components is equivalent to less than 1⁄5 grain.
“National Iodine Solution” appears to be very similar to “Gonocol” (The National Drug Co., Philadelphia, Pa.), which was analyzed by the Bureau of Chemistry of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The bureau stated that “it [Gonocol] consisted essentially of an aqueous solution of zinc sulphate, hamamelis water, a small amount of alcohol, 0.38 grain of iodin, and 0.36 grain of protein per fluidounce.”
It is evident that “National Iodine Solution” is not a solution of free elementary iodin as the name suggests; instead it appears to be a solution of zinc sulphate in witch hazel water containing less than 0.03 per cent. of combined iodin and not more than a trace of free iodin. “National Iodine Solution” is one more to be added to that already long list of proprietaries which makes capital of the high esteem in which physicians hold iodin.
THE CLAIMS
An advertising circular sent to physicians begins:
“Dear Doctor: We beg to suggest a line of treatment while using National Iodine Solution which our many years of experience has proven to us to give the best and quickest results in the treatment of inflammation of the urethral tract ...”
In it are given directions for the treatment of “acute gonorrhea, male,” “anterior urethritis,” “anterior-posterior urethritis,” “ardor urinæ and chordee,” etc., by means of National Iodine Solution and other proprietaries of the National Drug Company’s make. In fact the solution is claimed to be “Indicated in All Conditions of Urethra Accompanied by a Discharge.”