Mystery is added by the mention of undefined “special products” in the following:
“The fact of combining these two salts [lysidin and sidonal] in Urodonal, in strictly determined proportions and in the presence of special products, gives this preparation very considerable power in dissolving uric acid.”
These contradictory statements of composition conflict with Rule 1.
Urodonal is marketed in typical “patent medicine” style: the name “Urodonal” is blown in the bottle and the label contains a list of “Indications,” including rheumatism, gout and gravel (Rule 4). That this form of marketing has introduced it to the public is suggested by the following in an advertising circular:
“... Urodonal is now popular—even classic—throughout the world, where thousands of doctors and millions of patients agree in asserting that ‘Urodonal is to rheumatism what quinine is to fever.’ ”
There are also other indications that the mixture is to be exploited to the laity. For instance, the U. S. distributor sends out a portrait of Sarah Bernhardt bearing the legend:
“I am positive that URODONAL preserves youth’s freshness with clearness and strength to brain and heart. I have taken it for two years with the greatest benefit. Sarah Bernhardt.”
A circular advises this mixture
“For all who suffer from Arthritis, Rheumatism, Arterio-Sclerosis, Renal and Bilious Lithiasis, Headache, Gout, Gravel, Lumbago, Sciatic Pains, Neuralgia and all uric acid troubles.”