“It embodies ... the best recent scientific opinion concerning the treatment of the disease (tuberculosis) as stated ... by the official Journal A. M. A.”
Elsewhere in the circular The Journal’s criticisms of the hypophosphites and the glycerophosphates (proprietary preparations which are competitors of the Wheeler product) are quoted and twisted into a tribute to the ingredients of Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates. Garbling quotations, distorting statements, separating phrases from their contexts and omitting qualifying clauses, all for the purpose of making out a case for some proprietary remedy is a trick as old as quackery itself. That it should be used in advertising Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates is entirely fitting. Obviously, the T. B. Wheeler, M.D., Company esteems the opinion of The Journal on pharmacologic matters. This being the case, it should, in the interest of truth and scientific accuracy, publish in its advertising circulars just what The Journal has said about Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates. It could not do this better than by quoting from a recent editorial note which commented on a report of the Chemical Laboratory on this preparation. Here is part of the The Journal’s comment:
“ ‘Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates’ is an unscientific shotgun mixture whose most active and powerful drug is the alcohol it contains. That it was not years ago relegated to the realms of obsolete and discarded preparations is a commentary alike on the lack of scientific discrimination and on the power of advertising.”
Here we have “Wheeler’s Tissue Phosphates” stripped of the verbal camouflage with which its exploiters have invested it.—(Editorial from The Journal A. M. A., Sept. 22, 1917.)
BRIEFER PARAGRAPHS
Alcresta Lotion
To the Editor:—What is the composition of Alcresta Lotion?