“For abscesses existing or threatened in any obscure location, the middle ear, the mastoid, the frontal or any accessory sinuses, Toxicide is of inestimable value.
“If administered early, in fractures, compound or simple, or for laceration and other injuries, inflammation, swelling, soreness and destruction of tissue will be greatly mitigated.”
In support of these claims there are offered letters from physicians who have used Toxicide with good results. None of these testimonials present evidence that the reported effects were due to Toxicide. The asserted—and highly improbable—action of Toxicide could be determined only by an extensive series of carefully controlled clinical trials—and such evidence is entirely lacking. In fact, the claims appear to have no better basis than the coincidence which is stated to have led to the discovery of the “remedy”; namely, that a boil on the neck disappeared shortly after the administration of Toxicide!
The Council finds Toxicide inadmissible to New and Nonofficial Remedies because (1) the identity and amount of the potent constituent or constituents have not been furnished; (2) the preparation is advertised indirectly to the public; (3) the name “Toxicide” is therapeutically suggestive, and (4) the therapeutic claims, being unsubstantiated by evidence, are unwarranted.
Photographic reproduction (greatly reduced) of an advertising circular used some time ago describing the marvels (alleged) of Toxicide.
[Editorial Comment.—It seems rather preposterous that a scientific body, such as the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, should have to waste its time in investigating and reporting on such an obviously unscientific product as “Toxicide.” So long, however, as there are physicians who will take preparations of this sort seriously, the Council feels that it is its duty to report on such products. The problem, in fact, was well stated in a letter addressed to the editor some months ago by the secretary of a county medical society who had just received a visit from a representative of the Toxicide Laboratories and who sent to The Journal some of the advertising matter that he had received from the same source. This physician wrote:
“I do not wish to trouble you with this kind of material, usually deposited safely in my waste paper basket, but the enclosed was handed to me today by a ‘bird’ who is calling on all the doctors and making strong statements. When he claimed that ‘Toxicide’ is being used in the Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago, and that the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry is considering it seriously, etc., etc., I wish to know whether I am missing any real good thing. If it has any real virtue, I would like to know about it, but if it has not, it seems to me that something ought to be done to head him off as some doctors are sure to fall for some of it.”