Secret remedies : what they cost and what they contain / based on analyses made for the British Medical Association.

  • British Medical Association.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Secret remedies : what they cost and what they contain / based on analyses made for the British Medical Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    185/212 (page 173)
    No. 1 was described as the most eHicacious remedy for all dis- charges ; Therapioii No. 2 as the great remedy for impmity of the blood, scurvy, pimples, spots, blotches, pains and swelUngs of the joints, gout, and so on ; and No. 3 as a new French remedy, by the use of which the shattered health will be restored. The Expiring Lamp of IJfe Lighted Up Afresh, and a new e.>cistence imparted in place of what had so lately seemed worn, used uj), and valueless. This wonderful medicine is suitable for all ages, constitutions, and conditions, in either sex, and it is difficult to imagine a case of disease or derangement, whose main features are those of debility, that will not be speedily and permanently benefited by this never-failing recuperative essence, which is destined to cast into oblivion everything that had preceded it, for this widespread and numerous class of human ailments. The claims for No. 3 being so inclusive, it was deemed sufficient to analyse it only. The dose of all three was stated to be the same—a piece about the size of a small marble three or four times a day; as the package, costing 2s. 9d., contained oz., and as it was referred to as providing twenty ordinary doses, a single dose would be about 30 grains. The substance consisted of a dark stiS paste smelling strongly of camphor. Analysis showed it to contain, in addition to camphor, glycerine, powdered liquorice, a bitter extract agreeing in all respects with extract of gentian, calcium glycerophosphate, and a trace of alkaloid; there also appeared to be a second extract present. The alkaloid, which amounted to 0 06 per cent, only, could not be identified with any of the ordinary medicinal alkaloids. There was some evidence that the second extract was that of damiana, and a paste made up with this and the other ingredients agreed well with tlie original; but extract of damiana possesses no distinctive characters by which it can be identified in a mixture. Quantitative determinations were made of those ingredients capable of it, and the proportions of the others estimated by comparison. The results indicated the following formula : Camphor 2-5 parts. Glycerine . ... 24 „ Powdered hquorice ... 40 „ Calcmm glycerophosphate 1-8 Extract of gentian 5-0 Extract of damiana (?) 8 „ Alkaloid O OG .. Water to lUU