i88 
Abstract  Report  Conn.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  [ 
Am.  Jour,  Pharm. 
April,  1913. 
that  fig  juice  or  syrup  has  laxative  medicinal  properties.  It  is  to 
them  that  the  complainant  seeks  to  sell  its  preparations,  and  it  is 
with  respect  to  their  knowledge  and  impression  that  the  character, 
whether  descriptive  or  fanciful,  of  the  term  used,  is  to  be  deter- 
mined." Of  the  13  samples  analyzed,  6  were  sold  as  compound  fig 
syrup,  5  as  compound  fig  and  senna  syrup,  and  2  as  fruit  laxative. 
Nearly  all  contained  Epsom  or  Rochelle  salt  without  the  fact  ap- 
pearing on  the  label. 
One  preparation,  bearing  the  A.  D.  S.  label,  bears  the  statement : 
"  This  is  not  a  patent  medicine,  etc.,"  which  raises  the  question 
whether  a  preparation  made  by  a  druggist  or  a  group  of  druggists 
may  not  be  quite  as  much  a  patent  medicine  as  if  made  by  a  quack 
doctor  or  a  seemingly  reputable  house. 
A.  D.  S.  Rheumatic  Remedy. — An  examination  of  this  prepara- 
tion by  the  Experiment  Station  showed  it  to  contain  potassium 
iodide  and  sodium  salicylate  (both  well-known  specifics  for  rheuma- 
tism) and  an  alcohol-glycerine  infusion  of  a  small  amount  of  an 
unidentified  vegetable  drug,  to  which  the  trace  of  alkaloids  found 
may  be  due. 
A  summary  of  the  analysis  is  as  follows : 
The  label  on  the  container  also  gave  notice  "  That  this  is  not  a 
patent  medicine." 
Dr.  Franck's  Grains  of  Health. — Upon  examination  the  "  grains 
of  health  "  proved  to  be  pills  of  aloes,  coated  with  silver,  and  costing 
the  consumer  at  the  rate  of  $33.19  per  pound. 
Dr.  Williams'  Pink  Pills  for  Pale  People. — The  color  of  the  pills 
is  due  to  cochineal  and  the  active  ingredients  detected  were  iron 
oxide  and  magnesium  sulphate  and  a  faint  trace  of  alkaloids. 
The  makers  of  this  nostrum  state  that  the  pills  are  "  Not  a  cure- 
all  "  yet  on  further  reading  of  label  we  find  that  they  are  recom- 
mended for  all  diseases  resulting  from  impoverished  blood,  a  long 
Specific  gravity  at  15. 50  C. 
Alcohol  by  volume  
Solids   
Glycerine   
Ash   
Potassium  iodide  
Sodium  salicylate  .  
Alkaloids   
Phenolphthalein   
570 
23.40 
9.80 
7.90 
6-45 
6.13 
trace 
absent 
1.1015 
