NOSTRUMS 



249 



Royal Pain Powders Ammonol 



Miniature Headache Powders Salacetin 



Megrimine Cephalgin 



Anti-Headache Phenalgin 



depend for their results upon the heart-depressing action of acet- 

 anilid or phenacetin, and should never be taken without a doctor's 

 prescription. 



Test for the Presence of Acetanilid (Ritsert's Test). Boil 1 gram of the 

 sample in a small beaker for two or three minutes with 3 c.c. of strong hydro- 

 chloric acid. Divide in two portions in test tubes. To one test tube add three 

 drops of a solution of bleaching powder in such a manner that the two liquids 

 do not mix. A beautiful blue at the junction of the two liquids denotes the 

 presence of acetanilid. To the other test tube add a drop of potassium per- 

 manganate. A green color signifies the presence of acetanilid. 



Causes of Headaches. Headaches may be caused by the liver, 

 malaria, infected blood, the stomach, the ears or eyes. Sometimes 



BROMO~ 

 SELTZER 



CUBES ( 



HEADACHES 1 



lOc., 2Sc., SOc.. nd $1.00 BottlM. 



FIG. 153. Bromo Seltzer contains potassium bromide, acetanilid, and caffein. 

 This is a very dangerous nostrum, for deaths have followed the taking of 

 overdoses. It does not cure headache since it cannot remove the cause. 

 It acts as a heart-depressing medicine. 



a poison caused by fermentation forms in the intestines and produces 

 headaches of the worst type. This poison is considered very dan- 

 gerous, and, if isolated and injected directly into the blood, would 

 kill a person as quickly as the poison of a cobra. However, this 

 poison is not readily absorbed by the blood. Constipation allows 

 a great deal of this poison to collect in the system. The removal 

 of this cause relieves many headaches. 



