Such statements as these are found in the advertising literature:
“Formamint tablets are absolutely harmless and innocuous, even to little children.”
“When dissolved in the saliva, Formamint Tablets liberate slowly Nascent Formaldehyde in a most active yet non-irritant form.”
They maintain that Formamint is not only absolutely harmless, but actually beneficial to the tissues. It may be used “to tone up and strengthen the tissues, prevent hoarseness, and allay irritation in singers, public speakers,” etc.
The claims urged as to its germicidal power are indeed glittering. This “new chemical compound” is claimed to liberate formaldehyd in some new and peculiar condition which, while it has a soothing and tonic effect on the cells of the human tissues, can at the same time quickly kill any form of bacterial life.
“Dissolving readily, it releases its germicidal, antiseptic qualities, which impregnate the saliva and are carried naturally and easily around the mouth and in the deepest crevices of the throat—destroying the germs where they are causing the mischief. Formamint prevents and destroys infectious germ life in a soothing grateful way.”
“In the saliva it frees a germicide, fatal to germs but harmless to the most delicate membranes. And flowing into every tiny corner of the gums, tonsils and throat, into places where no gargle ever reaches, it most effectively disinfects the throat.”
The claims as to the preventive and curative effects of the preparation cover a large portion of the category of human ailments and distresses. The following quotations indicate some of its supposed properties:
“... it is therefore self-evident that Formamint should be looked upon as a necessary part of the treatment of all forms of tonsillitis.”
“The value of Formamint is equally great in diphtheric tonsillitis, or as a prophylactic ...”