“EXTERNAL INDICATIONS
“Tuberculosis, Pneumonia, Pleurisy, Cough, Sore Throat, Pyorrhea, Tonsilitis, Rheumatism, Spinal Irritation, Boils, Felons or any Pain. Periostitis, Carbuncles, Fistula in Ano, Goiter, Blood Poison, Diseases of Uterus and appendages (apply full strength on cotton wrapped applicator), Gonorrhea, acute or chronic in both sexes, Orchitis, Bubo, Prostatitis, Swellings, Enlarged Glands, Etc.”
“INTERNAL INDICATIONS
“Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Pleurisy, Typhoid Fever, Syphilis, Catarrh of Mucous surface of Alimentary Canal, Autotoxemia, Vomiting of Pregnancy, Rheumatism, Chronic Glandular and Organic Affections.”
The “certificate” from the Kansas City Testing Laboratory, mentioned above, states that Iodum-Miller was found to have a germicidal value nineteen times greater than carbolic acid—a somewhat remarkable finding in view of the fact that iodin dissolved by means of potassium iodid in alcohol or water, when tried on the typhoid bacillus has recently been found to possess only four times the germicidal value of carbolic acid in a solution of the same strength (Maben and White: Chem. and Drug., Jan. 30, 1915, p. 144). The “certificate” further states that the test “shows available iodine as found in IODUM-MILLER to have the greatest bactericidal power of any substance that we have ever tested that can be used medicinally.” There is no reason to believe that the desire to please its patrons has led the “testing laboratory” astray from the literal truth. The laboratory’s experience may be limited and the statement therefore entirely correct as far as it goes. No mention, however, is made of any tests comparing the germ-destroying power of Iodum-Miller with that of tincture of iodin, which contains 7 per cent. free iodin, unless the casual statement that “Iodum-Miller sterilized [the skin] more quickly” than tincture of iodin, be taken to imply such tests. It is not clear, however, by what means the laboratory was able to determine that there were no bacteria left alive in the skin after application of tincture of iodin and Iodum-Miller; no details are given of the methods used in arriving at this conclusion.
A circular says that Iodum-Miller
“... gives the Greatest Bactericidal and Therapeutic Action, whether used Internally, Externally, Hypodermically or Intravenously.”
In the light of the preceding report of the Chemical Laboratory of the Association, these claims require little comment. The laboratory has shown that the free iodin content (and consequently the germicidal efficiency) of Iodum-Miller is less than half that of Lugol’s solution, and less than a third of that of the official tincture of iodin. As for the advice to use Iodum-Miller internally in diseases ranging from pneumonia to syphilis and from typhoid to tuberculosis, in order to be convinced of its dangerous character, it is necessary only to recall that this treatment is equivalent to the administration of small doses of iodid—from 1⁄40 to 1 grain of potassium iodid. The mystery being removed from the composition of Iodum-Miller, the absurd extravagance of the claims made for it becomes manifest. The criticisms of the Council on the recommendations for Burnham’s Soluble Iodine (The Journal A. M. A., May 15, 1915, p. 1673) apply in almost every particular to Iodum-Miller.
Unwarranted therapeutic claims are made for Iodum-Miller; incorrect statements are made with regard to its composition and that of Iod-Izd-Oil (Miller’s); and the application of a trade name to both of these products is unjustifiable, since neither is original. It is therefore recommended that Iodum-Miller and Iod-Izd-Oil (Miller’s) be held ineligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies—(Abstracted in The Journal A. M. A., Oct. 2, 1915.)