Yeast is probably best taken incorporated in food. Hawk and his associates found that yeast may well be incorporated in wheat biscuits, and that in this way a yeast-wheat combination of most agreeable flavor was produced: that, in fact, the biscuits with the yeast tasted better than those without it. They found by tests that in bread making as much as 20 per cent. of the flour might be replaced by dry yeast, and that thereby a loaf would be produced that was excellent in every way and possessed of an attractive flavor. The dry yeast was prepared by desiccating compressed yeast at 105 C. in a current of air, and then milling it to produce a flour of the approximate fineness of ordinary wheat flour. They also found that yeast may be added to meat preparations, such as Hamburger steak, to the extent of 2.5 per cent., yielding a preparation of very satisfactory taste.—(Query in The Journal A. M. A., Aug. 23, 1919.)
BRIEFER PARAGRAPHS
Laxol and Lysol—The Short and Catchy Proprietary Name
A laborer went to a Brooklyn physician for treatment and was given three prescriptions. One of the prescriptions, according to the Food and Drug Bulletin of the Department of Health, City of New York, called for “Laxol,” the word being written on a piece of blank paper without directions. The drug clerk misread the prescription and dispensed an “original” bottle of “Lysol” which bore the usual poison label with skull and cross bones. The man drank the entire 3 ounces of Lysol and died half an hour later. The case is now in the hands of the District Attorney, the drug clerk being held under $10,000 bail. “Laxol,” as our readers know, is castor oil sweetened with saccharin and flavored with peppermint. There is no excuse for prescribing the product. The official Aromatic Castor Oil (Ol. Ricin. Arom.) of the National Formulary would answer every purpose served by the proprietary preparation.—(Editorial from The Journal A. M. A., May 29, 1920.)
Look Up Its Rating
Modern business has become so complex that it is no longer possible for those engaged in trade to know, offhand, the financial responsibility of their prospective customers. The commercial agency is a natural development; it aims to supply the technical (financial) information which the conservative business man needs but is otherwise unable to get. When John Doe & Co. contemplates entering into business arrangements with Henry Roe & Son to a degree that involves financial obligations, it looks up Roe in the rating book of Dun or Bradstreet and probably calls for a special commercial report on the concern. These facts are so elemental and obvious as to be trite. The complexity of modern medicine, especially in the pharmacologic field, has made it a physical impossibility for physicians to know the scientific status of scores of pharmaceutical products put out under proprietary or brand names. It was recognition of this fact that brought about the creation by the American Medical Association of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry. This body of experts, serving without remuneration and reporting without fear or favor on the newcomers to the pharmaceutical world, places at the disposal of physicians unbiased information, free alike from prejudice or prepossession. As the commercial agency reports on the commercial probity of individuals and firms, so the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry reports on what might be called the scientific probity of proprietary and unofficial pharmaceutical products. The commercial agency issues, at no small expense to its customers, rating books; the council on Pharmacy and Chemistry issues, at a nominal price, “New and Nonofficial Remedies.” The commercial agency, for a substantial fee, will furnish reports on business concerns; the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry will, without any expense to the profession, furnish reports on proprietary products used for the relief or cure of human ailments. The careful business man avails himself of the services of the commercial agency; there are financial interests at stake. The conscientious physician will avail himself of the services of the Council; there are, it may well be, lives at stake.—(Editorial from The Journal A. M. A., April 24, 1920.)