“In addition to the active free iodine ... IODUM-MILLER carries a still greater per cent of Iodine in its basic combination....”
According to the label, the preparation is
“An Iodine for External and Internal use ... 45 drops equals 1 dr. by weight. Each drop equals the per cent. of iodine in 1 gr. potas. iodide.”
Iodum-Miller is a heavy, dark liquid having an odor characteristic of ether (ethyl oxid). Qualitative tests revealed the presence of glycerin, free iodin, iodid and potassium. The specific gravity at 25 degrees was 1.284. Direct titration with sodium thiosulphate solution indicated the presence of 1.68 per cent. of free iodin. A determination of the total iodin content by the Hunter method indicated 3.06 per cent. Subtraction of the amount of free iodin found from the total amount of iodin present, gives 1.38 per cent. combined iodin. Assuming this to be present as potassium iodid, as appears probable from the qualitative examination and from the quantitative determination of potassium, 1.80 per cent. potassium iodid is indicated. From this examination it is concluded that Iodum-Miller is, essentially, a solution of iodin and potassium iodid in glycerin, containing 1.68 per cent. free iodin and 1.80 per cent. potassium iodid. The examination contradicts the assumption that Iodum-Miller is either novel in principle or new. Moreover, accepting the firm’s statement that 45 drops weigh 1 dram (60 grains) the examination shows that one drop equals not “the per cent. of iodine in 1 gr. potas. iodide” but instead, the per cent. of iodin in only 1⁄20 grain potassium iodid. As the statement that “Each drop equals the per cent. of iodine in 1 gr. potas. iodide” appears on the label of the trade package, Iodum-Miller would seem to be misbranded under the federal Food and Drugs Act.
The recommended internal dosage of Iodum-Miller (from 1⁄2 to 20 drops) is equivalent to from 1⁄40 to 1 grain of potassium iodid. Its external efficacy in comparison with that of other iodin preparations may be estimated by comparing the respective free iodin contents, since the germicidal power of combined iodid is negligible. While Iodum-Miller contains 2.15 gm. free iodin in 100 c.c., tincture of iodin contains 7 gm. per 100 c.c. and compound solution of iodin (Lugol’s solution) contains 5 gm. free iodin in 100 gm.
Among the advertising literature is a circular which purports to be a “Certificate from Kansas City Testing Laboratory, by Roy Cross, Secretary.” The “certificate” attempts to prove that Iodum-Miller is vastly superior to the official tincture of iodin as a germicide, asserting that “In the process of dissolving [tincture of iodin] in water, a very large amount of the iodin is lost by precipitation....” This is not true of the tincture of iodin which is now official, though it is true of the tincture official in former editions of the Pharmacopeia. The report ignores completely the widely used aqueous solution of iodin.
Iod-Izd-Oil (Miller’s) is said to be an “Iodine Combination” made “from the same Soluble Soot Iodine as is IODUM-MILLER.” It is said to “liberate Free Soluble Iodine” when applied to the skin, mucous surfaces, etc. It is further defined as “Soluble Iodine combined with water-white Hydrocarbon Oil” and is said to liberate “Soluble Iodine 2 per cent.” While these statements suggest that Iod-Izd-Oil (Miller’s) contains the iodin-potassium iodid combination contained in Iodum-Miller, analysis indicated the oil to be a simple solution of iodin in liquid petrolatum. Quantitative determinations indicated, not 2 per cent. of iodin, as claimed, but only 0.42 per cent. and all of this was present as free iodin.
REFEREE’S REPORT
The following therapeutic claims appear on the label of a bottle of Iodum-Miller: