Report from the Select Committee on patent medicines.
- Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Patent Medicines.
- Date:
- 1914
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Report from the Select Committee on patent medicines. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![Q. 2948-57 Q. 9429. Q. 9499. Q. 13927-9. We requested the Government Chemist to furnish us with an analysis of this, but he I felt unable to do so, as its composition had been divulged to him in confidence by the j manufacturers in connection with action by the Customs and Excise. He therefore ; nominated, with the sanction of the Treasury, Mr. E. J. Bevan, r.i.c.. County Analyst of Middlesex, and the latter has furnished us with the following report: “ No-Germo ” consists of an alcoholic solution containing camphor, ammonia and oil of cinnamon. “ It is conceivable, but unlikely, that there may be traces of other bodies, but I have not been able to discover them. The liquid is slightly yellow, more so ; than could be accounted for by the amount of oil of cinnamon present, but the ^ difference in colour is most probably due to the prolonged action of the ammonia ■ on the oil of cinnamon. “ Possibly the ammonia is present in the form of sal-volatile, but I am unable to say definitely. “ Beside the sample sent officially, I have examined, in more or less detail, eight other samples that I purchased at various chemists’ shops. There is a very large variation in the composition. For example, the alcoholic strength varies from 51T per cent, to 64‘8 per cent., and there are similar variations in the oil of cinnamon, the camphor and the ammonia. “ The average composition is set out below:— Alcohol ----- 58-3 per cent. ■ Oil of Cinnamon - - - 0*5 per cent. Camphor - - - - 1 '03 per cent. ! Ammonia - . - - 0'33 per cent. ' “ The approximate cost of one bottle, selling at 2s. 3d., is 3‘64 pence, say three pence three farthings.” Of the remedies discussed in this paragraph no person connected with those lettered c, d, e, f, g, h, j, h and m took advantage of our general invitation to give evidence before us. We have, therefore, had no opportunity of hearing what they had to say j in justification of their methods, or in criticism of the statements made to us by other ' witnesses in reference to the articles sold by them. Persons interested in the remedies lettered a, b and i appeared before us, and it is only fair to state that they strongly contested the accuracy of the analyses furnished to us of the constituents of their remedies. In dealing with this latter group at some length, we have no intention of suggesting that these are exceptionally bad cases. The fact these persons gave evidence creates a presumption that they were better able to face examination of their business and their goods than many others manufacturing secret remedies. Examples of Fraudulent Claims. 37. The following are a few examples, which could be multiplied almost indefinitely, of fraudulent claims :— “The best remedy for consumption.” {Congrevds Elixir.) “ Cures Bright’s disease.” {Munyon’s Kidney Cure, consisting of sugar only.) “It never fails.to cure cancerous ulcers, syphilis, piles, rheumatism, gout, dropsy.” {J'larkes Blood Mixture.) “ Bright’s disease, stone in the bladder, dropsy, eczema, scrofula .... can be speedily cured.” [Warner's Safe C^ire.) “ The absolute specific for all, or some, of their phases ” of “ syphilis and every form of venereal disease.” (Wallace's Specific.) “Applied freely will cure lumbago or sciatica in one night.” [Lemsco.) “ Cured not only rheumatism, but amemia, eczema, sciatica, St. Vitus’s dance. Spinal weakness, etc.” (Fink Pills for Pale People. These contain ferrous sulphate, and ai'e one of the many variations of Blaud’s pill—the pilula ferri of the British Pharmacopoeia. “The remarkable curative influence exercised in cases of Bright’s disease,” (Beecharn's Pills. This statement was made for many years, but was dropped < a few years ago.) “ It will be sufficient to offer a few general remarks, and to indicate the method of cure [of syphilis], which is, beyond all, the question of supreme importance. Let it never be forgotten that even a slight delay in dealing with diseases of this type may be terribly fruitful of future trouble. In the first place, the advice of a properly qualified medical man is necessary, whatever the character / -](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28269901_0020.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
