The claim is made that:

“By reason of its unusual potency and relative harmlessness, Hydropsin may be employed to great advantage in all cases where it is desirable to increase the volume of urine without injury to the renal structures.”

On the basis of the claimed composition, the action of Hydropsin must be essentially that of digitalis or of digitalis and squill. Consequently, if it possesses “unusual potency,” it cannot possess “relative harmlessness,” and vice versa. Neither digitalis nor squill should be employed “in all cases” of nephritis, even if it is “desirable to increase the volume of urine.”

The composition claimed for Hydropsin brands it as an irrational mixture in which potent drugs are combined with, and more or less covered up by, others that are obsolete and inefficient. The name, instead of indicating its composition, suggests diseases in which it may be thoughtlessly and indiscriminately used. The claim that the danger of toxic or cumulative action has been removed, if accepted by physicians, tends to uncritical use with possible disastrous results. Hydropsin is ineligible for New and Non­official Remedies because of conflict with Rules 1, 2, 6, 8 and 10.—(From The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 8, 1916.)

DIGITALYSATUM

Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry

The Council has adopted the following report and authorized its publication.

W. A. Puckner, Secretary.

Digitalysatum is sold in the United States by Ernst Bischoff Company, Inc., New York. The firm claims that it is a dialysate prepared from the juice of freshly gathered digitalis, containing all the active principles, and representing the fresh plant weight for weight. It is said to be standardized physiologically and to contain 12 per cent. alcohol. Sterisol-Digitalysatum, intended for injection, appears to be the “dialysate” without alcohol, diluted with equal parts of physiologic sodium chlorid solution. The Council some years ago found both products ineligible for New and Non­official Remedies because of unwarranted therapeutic claims. The preparations are still being advertised to physicians under claims which imply superiority to all other digitalis preparations. For instance: