RESINA PODOPHYLLI 253 



the generic substance resin or rosin, and accordingly we 

 should write Podophyllin, Macrotin, Jalapin, etc." 



This method of nomenclature, suggested by Dr. Mer- 

 rell, was accepted without question by the other makers 

 of Eclectic remedies of that period, Hill, of Cincinnati, 

 and Keith, of New York, each of whom placed upon the 

 market a limited line of "resinoids," chief among which 

 was "Podophyllin." From that date the name "Podo- 

 phyllin" appeared as the trade name of this preparation, 

 and after half a century has been accepted by the 

 U. S. Pharmacopoeia (1910), thus belatedly vindicating 

 Dr. Merrell. 1 



To the above it may be added that the critics of the 

 term "podophyllin" were themselves at fault, because 

 the material is not a resin, but a mixture of substances. 

 The present writer feels likewise at liberty to add that 

 Dr. King, time and again, in conversation with him 

 personally, lamented that not only had the name of 

 this substance been the occasion for acrimonious dis- 

 cussion in Eclectic ranks, but that the discovery of the 

 substance itself had been accompanied by an exceed- 

 ingly trying and painful experience, resulting almost in 

 professional disaster to himself. The incident had un- 

 doubtedly much to do with the unusual care exercised 

 thereafter by Dr. King, both as a practitioner and as 

 an author. This may be best described by giving, ver- 

 batim, a letter of Dr. King bearing upon the subject, 2 

 as follows: 



1 A process for the assay of podophyllin has been worked out by Mr. Charles G. 

 Merrell, of Wm. S. Merrell & Co., a grandson of Dr. Wm. S. Merrell. This phase of the 

 history of the drug will be considered at length in the volume now being prepared by Dr. 

 Waldbott and Dr. Heyroth. 



1 Given with permission to publish same if so < 



