'•J  Abstract  Report  Conn.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta. 
189 
list  of  female  complaints,  for  many  nervous  disorders,  such  as  St. 
Vitus'  dance,  paralysis  and  locomotor  ataxia,  and  for  male  dis- 
orders arising  from  excesses,  etc. ;  surely  a  rather  wide  field. 
Thialion. — In  the  literature  sent  to  physicians  and  in  its  ad- 
vertisements Thialion  is  stated  to  be  "  a  laxative  salt  of  lithia"  of 
the  following  formula :  "  3Li20,  NaO,  So3,  7HO,"  and  sodio- 
trilithic  anhydrosulphate  is  given  as  its  name.  Upon  analysis  it 
was  shown  to  be  simply  a  mixture  of  sodium  citrate  and  sodium 
sulphate  with  very  small  amounts  of  lithium  citrate  and  sodium 
chloride. 
Poslam. — A  grayish  ointment  with  a  strong,  tarry  odor,  sold 
in  tin  cans  containing  20.5  gms.,  and  cost  50  cents.  Upon  analysis 
showed  the  presence  of : 
Fatty  base,  probably  petrolatum,  sufficient  to  make  100  parts. 
The  active  ingredients  are  zinc  oxide,  tar  oil  and  sulphur.  "These 
have  long  been  used  and  known  as  more  or  less  effectual  remedies 
for  the  treatment  of  skin  affections,  but  certainly  do  not  warrant 
such  claims  as  are  made  in  the  advertising  matter  sent  out  with 
Poslam  stating  it  to  be  '  The  newest  medical  discovery  for  the 
treatment  of  eczema,  and  all  other  skin  affections  and  entirely 
different  from  anything  yet  used'"  (Puckner  and  Hilpert). 
Since  the  passage  of  the  Federal  Food  and  Drugs  Act  Lemon 
Extract  and  Asafetida  have  been  much-discussed  articles  of  com- 
merce. 
Lemon  Extract. — A  sample  of  French's  Triple  Strength  Lemon 
Extract  contained  no  lemon  oil,  and  was  colored  with  napthol 
yellow  S,  a  permitted  coal-tar  dye.  The  carton  claimed  "triple 
strength,"  the  bottle  "genuine  extract,"  and  a  sticker  on  both 
the  carton  and  bottle  stated  in  very  fine  print  that  it  contained 
"'no"  lemon  oil,  a  series  of  inconsistent  and  misleading  statements 
clearly  making  the  sample  misbranded. 
Asafetida,  Powdered. — Eleven  samples  were  examined,  ten 
of  which  failed  to  come  up  to  U.  S.  P.  requirements  for  alcohol- 
Zinc  oxide  
Sulphur   
Starch,  anhydrous 
11.47 
6-55 
1945 
14.40 
Tar  oil 
Menthol 
present 
present 
Salicylic  acid 
