“We have been unable to obtain any evidence that the true Mexican Cactus grandiflorus possesses any pharmacologic action whatever; but, on the contrary, it appears to be a singularly inert substance when administered either by the mouth or by the vein.”
When colossal doses of Cactus grandiflorus are given by the vein, they sometimes—but not always—appear to exert an extremely feeble action on the heart; but this action is so slight that its nature could not be determined. Even the most colossal doses of Cactus grandiflorus administered by the mouth to cats, dogs and frogs exert no perceptible effect.
Sollmann thus satirizes the absurd claims made by the exploiters of proprietary forms of cactus: “Should the heart be too slow, cactus quickens it; if the heart is too fast, cactus slows it; should the heart be too weak, cactus strengthens it; if the heart is too strong, cactus weakens it; does the heart wobble, cactus steadies it; if the heart is normal, cactus does not meddle with it” (J. A. M. A. 51:52 [July 4] 1908).
Will physicians continue to accept the statements of an interested nostrum vender—who submits not a shred of evidence to support his claims, but who has a financial interest in convincing them—even when his statements are diametrically opposed to all the evidence that the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry has been able to secure?—(From The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 19, 1918.)
[Article V]
Ammonol and Phenalgin
At the time that synthetic chemical drugs were coming into fame and when every manufacturer who launched a new headache mixture claimed to have achieved another triumph in synthetic chemistry, Ammonol and Phenalgin were born. Of course, these twins of analgesic pseudotherapy were claimed to be synthetics and were duly christened with “formulas.” They were among the first of the nostrums examined for the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, and the false claims made for them were exposed.
The analyses made for the Council showed that Ammonol and Phenalgin were simple mixtures, having the following composition:
| ACETANILID | SODIUM BICARBONATE | AMMONIUM CARBONATE | |
| Ammonol | 50 | 25 | 20 |
| Phenalgin | 57 | 20 | 10 |