To further check the keeping qualities of hyclorite, a specimen received from the manufacturer in June, 1918, and said to have been bottled in April, 1918, was examined in September, 1918. It was found to contain 3.6 per cent, “available chlorin” (equivalent to 3.79 gm. sodium hypochlorite in 100 gm.). This indicated a loss of 6.2 per cent. during five months (equivalent to 14.9 per cent. per year) on the assumption that it contained the amount of “available chlorin” declared on the label.
Concentrated Solution Sodium Hypochlorite-Mulford.—This is described as a 5 per cent, aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite containing free chlorin equivalent to from 0.2 to 1 per cent. sodium hypochlorite. It is prepared by treating a solution of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate with chlorinated lime. The solution is filtered and standardized by determining the “available chlorin” and adjusting it to contain the equivalent of 5 per cent. of sodium hypochlorite.
It is proposed for use in the irrigation treatment of infected wounds after dilution with nine times its volume of water and the addition of a determined amount (stated on the label of each bottle) of boric acid to render it neutral to phenolphthalein. The manufacturer has found that development of a red color (due to formation of permanganate from the manganese contained in the chlorinated lime) is indicative of deterioration, and therefore warns against any solution which has become pink.
A specimen of concentrated solution of sodium hypochlorite-Mulford was sent the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry in June, 1917, with a view of having the product admitted to New and Nonofficial Remedies. At that time it was found to contain 4.18 per cent. “available chlorin” (equivalent to 4.4 gm. sodium hypochlorite in 100 gm.). Another specimen received at the same time and kept unopened in a dark place, was examined in September, 1918, and was found to contain 2.88 per cent. available chlorin (equivalent to 3 gm. sodium hypochlorite per 100 gm.). On the assumption that the second specimen contained, at the time of its receipt, the amount of “available chlorin” found in the first, this second specimen lost 31 per cent. of its “available chlorin” during fifteen months.
At the time the specimens were received from the Mulford Company, the firm reported experiments which were under way to determine the keeping qualities of the solution. These experiments indicated marked deterioration of the specimens, which had become red from permanganate formation, and also that one specimen, which had not become red, had lost 5 per cent. of its available chlorin in one month. The Mulford Company explained that when sufficient data had been accumulated, a decision would be made either as to placing a time limit on the solution or making a claim as to the rate of deterioration. When the extreme deterioration found by this laboratory was reported to the Mulford Company, the firm replied that this was a much greater loss than the average deterioration found in its chemical laboratory, namely, an average of 10 or 12 per cent. per year. It advised that because of the instability of concentrated solution of sodium hypochlorite, its manufacture had been discontinued.—(From Reports A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory, 1918, p. 81.)
SYPHILODOL
The shortage of arsphenamin (salvarsan) has made the sale of substitutes a profitable business. In many of these substitutes the earmarks of dishonesty have been obvious, so that detection of their falsity was relatively simple. In the case of “Syphilodol” marketed by the French Medicinal Company, Inc., New York, the deception has been practiced more skilfully. In the circular announcing their preparations, we read:
“It seems fitting at this time, when the American physicians are doing so much for France, that there should be a reciprocation in some way.
“Attempting to enhance somewhat this mutual interchange, we are presenting some of those scientific products, which have been so successfully used in France, ——”