Chapter VI: Kidney Medicines

The secret remedies dealt with in this chapter comprise a further selection from those advertised for the cure of backache and kidney disorders. Several of those which were described in the previous report on nostrums of this class (_Secret Remedies_, p. 66) were pills, nearly all containing potassium nitrate and oil of juniper. Of the four pills now reported on, only one contains these ingredients; two consist chiefly of soap and sodium carbonate, and the fourth contains copaiba as the only active substance found; this, although advertised for backache and kidney troubles, appears to be principally put forward for gonorrhœa, gleet, and similar disorders. Neither of the two liquids described in the report appears to contain any very active substance; one of these, of American origin, and stated to contain more effectual doses and more medicine in each dose than any other remedy at the same price, proved to contain 10.5 per cent. of alcohol and 46.5 per cent. of sugars, with only 2.4 per cent. of vegetable extractive, which appeared to be partly derived from cascara sagrada, a trace of oil of wintergreen giving an aromatic flavour to the whole. Needless to say, the claims advanced for this combination do not show more modesty than is displayed in other cases, including as they do the assertions that it cures Bright’s disease, expels gall stones, cures impotence, drives malarial poison out of the system, is the best remedy for liver complaint, torpid liver, and biliousness, and possesses the rarest electric and therapeutic properties in a very concentrated form. The other liquid preparation appears to depend chiefly on magnesium sulphate and potassium citrate, with a very little sweet spirit of nitre and some vegetable extractive in which no active substances were recognised. The extraordinary carelessness with which the ingredients of nostrums may be thrown together is shown by comparing the contents of different bottles; one contained five times as much magnesium sulphate as the other. This preparation is foisted upon the public as an ingredient in a “prescription” which is published in various papers in the guise of an item of information; readers are advised to take it only to “chemists of well-known standing,” in order to avoid some other ingredient being substituted for one of those named; probably chemists of well-known standing who received such a “prescription” would take good care to inform the purchaser that one of the ingredients was a secret nostrum and not a recognised preparation of known composition like the others, and our analysis may allow of a little further information being now given. One of the pills reported on is one member of a series called “The Home Doctor Remedies,” which furnishes a good illustration of the advantage to the proprietor of a nostrum in supplying directly to the public. In this case the proprietor is a limited company--though using the name of an individual--claiming to be “Specialists in the Treatment and Cure of Rupture,” and inviting every one suffering from rupture to submit particulars and measurements, etc., in order to be supplied with an appliance and the application, shown in a previous report to be a tincture of capsicum with certain essential oils, which is to “cure” the rupture. In this way large numbers of names and addresses are doubtless obtained, and the persons applying are not only furnished with particulars of the rupture “treatment,” but also--in due course--with the particulars of “The Home Doctor Remedies” for various disorders, remedies said to have been evolved for the treatment of complications interfering with the cure of rupture; they no doubt provide a remunerative subsidiary business. The pamphlet describing them contains the statement “we have no large advertising expenses, and are thus in a position to exclude all but the very best quality of articles used in their manufacture, and still supply the articles at a reasonable price”; how reasonable the price is may be seen by comparing the estimated cost of the ingredients (about ¹⁄₂d.) with the price charged for the pills (1s. 9d.).

HOLDROYD’S GRAVEL PILLS.

These are supplied by a firm in the north of England in boxes at 1s. 1¹⁄₂d., containing twenty-five.

They are advertised as:

A positive cure for Gravel, Pains in the Back, Dropsy, Diseases of
the Kidneys, Gout, Sciatica.

Some extracts from circulars enclosed in the package are:

Have you Pains in the Back, Between the Shoulders, In the Joints? If
so, don’t go on suffering day after day when you can be quickly and
permanently cured by Holdroyd’s Gravel Pills, which are guaranteed to
give Immediate Relief in all cases of Gravel, Lumbago, Pains in Back,
Dropsy, Wind and Water Complaints, Rheumatism, Gleet, Kidney Disease,
Gout, Sciatica, etc.

They have never been known to fail and never can. They have cured
diseases after long years of suffering, when various remedies,
hospitals, and medical men have tried in vain. A steady perseverance
with these marvellous Pills has effected wonderful cures.

The directions are:

Two Pills three times a day, morning, afternoon, and night.

The pills were not regularly coated, but had a thick covering of loosely adhering magnesia, more or less impregnated with oil of anise and colouring matter from the pill. After removal of this layer their average weight was 4.3 grains. Analysis showed the presence of oil of anise, soap, sodium carbonate, and powdered rhubarb. The proportions of the different ingredients were determined as nearly as possible, and the following formula was arrived at:

Soap 40 per cent.
Dried sodium carbonate 20 „
Powdered rhubarb 20 „
Oil of anise 10 „
Syrup 10 „

Estimated cost of ingredients for twenty-five pills ¹⁄₃d.

DR. DE ROOS’ COMPOUND RENAL PILLS.

These pills are supplied by a firm in London at 1s. 1¹⁄₂d. per box, containing fifteen pills.

They are advertised as follows:

Dr. De Roos’ Compound Renal Pills have over Fifty years’ reputation
as the most safe and speedy remedy for Pains in the Back, Gravel,
Lumbago, Gout, Rheumatism, Weakness across the Loins, Sandy or other
deposits, Stone, Stricture, and Diseases of Kidneys and Urinary
Organs generally.

And in a pamphlet enclosed in the package it is stated that:

By their use alone many thousands are annually restored to health,
and the agonies of gout and rheumatism may now be considered a
voluntary affliction, as no one need suffer these excruciating
torments if they will only have recourse to these Pills, which are
confidently recommended by the proprietor as the only real specific,
and being entirely free from colchicum, mercury, and other injurious
ingredients, may be taken with perfect safety by sufferers of
either sex. For weakness across the loins, sandy or other deposits,
discharges, and diseases of the urinary organs generally, they are
altogether unrivalled. They correct acidity of the stomach, promote
the functions of the kidneys, thereby preventing stone in the
bladder, and many other serious disorders to which these important
organs are liable. Many complaints, long supposed to be nervous,
often arise solely from contamination of the blood with certain
impurities which should have been carried off by the kidneys. Several
unsightly eruptions of the skin and face also arise from the same
cause, and may be as readily removed by these Pills.

Varying directions are given for different cases, the dose varying from “one or two” to “two or more” to be taken either every night, or every morning, or both night and morning.

The pills were not regularly coated, but had a thick covering of powdered liquorice. After removing this, their average weight was 4.5 grains. Analysis showed the presence of soap (34.2 per cent., calculated as anhydrous), sodium carbonate (19.7 per cent. of the dried salt), a resin (3.3 per cent.), and a small quantity of vegetable tissue with moisture and extractive. The resin did not contain colophony, and did not show the characteristic behaviour of galbanum, but may have been derived from ammoniacum. It possessed no characters by which its source could be determined. The vegetable tissue appeared to be derived from a leaf, but could not be identified with any drug in ordinary use. No other active ingredient was found.

RED CROSS PILLS.

Red Cross Pills are supplied by a limited company in Liverpool. A 2s. 9d. box was found to contain sixty-one pills.

An advertisement of the pills is as follows:

Red Cross Pills are the Wonder of the Day. Cure for Kidney, Bladder,
Backache, Gravel, and all discharge from any cause. 30 years’
Reputation. Thousands of Testimonials. Send 2s. 9d. postal order.

A box of the pills was sent for, no reference being made to the purpose for which they were required. They were received by post with the following letter (the punctuation is unaltered):

Dear Sir,

We thank you for your letter, Pills herewith. You will make better
progress if you do not touch any intoxicants drink Soda and Lime
Juice or a little Claret instead; at home plenty of Barley Water, if
can help you in any way, please write to us, and we will do our best
for you in the way of advice. With our best wishes for a speedy cure.
Yours truly.

The following is an extract from a pamphlet enclosed in the package:

If you suffer from pains in the back and Lumbago, take the Red Cross
Pills; thousands have been cured by their use.

If you suffer from Gravel, the Kidneys, and Inflamation of the
Bladder, take Red Cross Pills; thousands have been cured by their use.

If you suffer from old standing ailments which are the curse of
manhood, and which bring premature decay of Nervous and Physical
Strength, such as Strictures, Spermatorrhoe, Nocturnal Emissions,
Prostate Affections, etc., etc., take the Red Cross Pills; thousands
have been cured by their use.

If you suffer from what is generally known to be red sand deposit in
the urine, or urine unclear and cloudy, take the Red Cross Pills;
thousands are relieved every day by their use for the same complaints.

If you suffer from want of energy caused by old standing ailments and
impurity of the Blood, take the Red Cross Pills: thousands have been
cured by their use.

If you suffer from Gonorrhœa, Gleet, or discharges of any
description, accidental, recent, or chronic cases, arising from any
causes, take the Red Cross Pills; thousands have been cured by their
use.

The Red Cross Pills are warranted to be purely vegetable and not to
contain a particle of mercury.

Directions are given in which the dose varies from two pills twice a day to three pills three times a day. The pills were sugar-coated, and coloured pink externally. After removal of the coating they had an average weight of 2.6 grains. Analysis showed the presence of a resin (24.3 per cent.) which appeared to be copaiba resin, a much smaller quantity of oil of copaiba, magnesia (about 8 per cent.), with liquorice and starch; no other active ingredients were found. The principal constituent thus appears to be copaiba, from which most of the oil has been removed to facilitate its preparation as a pill, the remainder being apparently of the nature of excipient. Such pills sugar-coated, can be obtained wholesale at less than 1s. per gross.

THE HOME DOCTOR BACKACHE AND KIDNEY PILLS.

These pills belong to a series called “The Home Doctor Remedies,” supplied by a limited company in London, which advertises largely a “treatment for rupture.” In a previous report (_Secret Remedies_, pp. 158-160) is published the result of analysis of their “Developing Lymphol,” supplied as part of the treatment; the connection of this side of the business with “The Home Doctor Remedies” is thus described in a pamphlet sent to a person who had previously purchased an appliance for rupture:

In successfully treating rupture it is necessary to take into
consideration the other physical disabilities of the patient as well
as devoting attention to the rupture, and as there are some diseases
which directly, and others indirectly, affect the cure of rupture, we
have found it necessary to give special attention to those which are
most likely to delay a cure.

We are not general Patent Medicine dealers, but we are Specialists in
the Treatment and Cure of Rupture, and it is to the fact that we give
the closest attention to all the various conditions connected with
each individual case that we have been able to attain such remarkable
success in curing rupture. Whenever we find any complication that
has any tendency to delay the cure, we endeavour to overcome this
complication, so that the cure of the rupture may proceed without
interruption. To that end we have gradually evolved a series of
medicines for these complications, accepting none that had not been
thoroughly tested and recommended by the best authorities, or that
could in any way be harmful to the patient. The ingredients of each
of our formulas are practically all vegetable products, and the
formulas themselves are recommended and used by medical men of high
standing.

We, ourselves, can strongly recommend these remedies, and patients
can use them with confidence, knowing that in them they have the very
best that actual experience can produce.

We supply these remedies at Prices which cannot be equalled where
results are considered.

There are six other “Home Doctor Remedies” besides the Backache and Kidney Pills. The latter are thus referred to:

Our remedy for backache cannot be surpassed. In nearly every other
remedy used it is necessary to gradually increase the size of the
dose, as well as the frequency of it. With our remedy the same dose
is taken at all times and will give exactly the same results. It
is absolutely harmless and will at once relieve all disagreeable
symptoms, and induce the kidneys to perform their proper functions.

The price is 1s. 9d. per bottle, post paid; a bottle was found to contain fifty-three pills, ovoid in shape, and coated with gelatine coloured black. After removal of the coating the pills had an average weight of 3.3 grains. Analysis showed the presence of potassium nitrate, powdered capsicum, a very little oil of juniper, with soap, sugar, magnesia, starch, and gum. There was no evidence that the extractive present came from anything besides the capsicum, but a small quantity of some other extract possessing no distinctive characters might have been present. The quantities of the different ingredients were determined as nearly as possible, and the formula was found to be, approximately:

Oil of juniper 3 per cent.
Potassium nitrate 26 „
Magnesia 8 „
Powdered capsicum 20 „
Sugar 17 „
Soap 1 „
Starch, gum, moisture, etc., to 100.

Estimated cost of ingredients for fifty-three pills about ¹⁄₂d.

DR. KILMER’S SWAMP-ROOT.

This preparation is stated to be prepared only by a firm giving a London address; the package, however, bears the words, “made in U.S.A.” The price of the small-size bottle is 1s. 1¹⁄₂d., and this was found to contain just over 3 fluid ounces.

An advertisement in an English periodical is headed:

Are your kidneys weak? Thousands of Men and Women have Kidney Trouble
and Never Suspect It.

And other statements which follow include:

Most people do not realise the alarming increase and remarkable
prevalence of kidney disease. While kidney disorders are the most
common diseases that prevail, they are almost the last recognised by
patients and physicians, _who content themselves with doctoring the
effects_, while the _original disease_ undermines the system.... In
taking Swamp-Root, you afford natural help to Nature, for it is the
most perfect healer and gentle aid to the kidneys that has ever been
discovered.

On the front page of a pamphlet enclosed in the package appears the following:

How To Find Out.

Fill a bottle or common glass with urine and let it stand twenty-four
hours; a sediment or settling indicates an unhealthy condition of the
kidneys. When urine stains linen it is evidence of kidney trouble.
Too frequent desire to urinate, scanty supply, pain or dull ache in
the back, is also convincing proof that the kidneys or bladder are
out of order.

What To Do.

There is comfort in the knowledge so often expressed, that Dr.
Kilmer’s Swamp-Root, the great kidney, liver, and bladder remedy,
fulfils every wish in quickly relieving pain in the back, kidneys,
liver, bladder, and every part of the urinary passage.

And on the package it is stated that:

This great specific cures Acute and Chronic Diseases of the Kidneys,
Liver, Bladder, or Urinary Organs, Kidney Complaint, and all Uric
Acid Troubles. Cures Bright’s Disease. Dissolves, expels Gravel,
Stone in Bladder. It heals and cures Irritation, Inflammation,
Ulceration, or Catarrh of Bladder, Blood or Mucus in Urine, Retention
of Urine, Pain in Urinating, Frequent Calls, Highly Coloured Urine,
Brick Dust in Urine, Stoppage of Urine, Thick, Sluggish, Scanty
Urine. Builds up a run down Constitution, and is the _Best Remedy_
and most reliable for Liver Complaint, Torpid Liver and Biliousness,
Expels Gall Stones, Diabetes, Dropsy. It cures Enlargement of
Prostate Gland, Seminal Weakness, Spermatorrhœa, Impotence,
Generative Debility, and General Languor. Drives Malarial Poison
out of system. Gravel. It removes the causes producing Nervousness,
Sleeplessness, Headache, Neuralgia, Slime Fever, Inward Heat and
Thirst, and cures when all other remedies have failed. It purifies
the blood!

The contents of this bottle is a PURE MEDICINE, and contains _more
effectual doses_, and each dose contains MORE MEDICINE than any other
remedy at the same price.

Contains the active medicinal properties of Swamp Roots, Field Herbs,
Sea Weeds, Native Balms and Balsams, possessing the rarest Electric
and Therapeutic properties in a very concentrated form.

The directions on the label are:

May Take one, two, or three teaspoonfuls before or after meals, and
at bedtime. Children less according to age. May commence with small
doses and increase to full dose or more, as the case would seem to
require.

The liquid was brown in colour and turbid, giving a small deposit on standing. Analysis showed that 100 parts by measure contained 48.9 parts by weight of solid matter, of which 46.5 parts consisted of sugars; 10.5 per cent. of alcohol (by measure) was present, with a trace of oil of wintergreen. The mineral constituents only amounted to 0.05 per cent., and consisted of the elements usually found in vegetable drugs; no alkaloid was present. The extractive was bitter, and contained emodin, agreeing in these respects with extract of cascara sagrada. A liquid containing 2 parts of extract of cascara sagrada and 0.5 parts of oil of wintergreen in 100 parts by measure, together with sugar and alcohol in the proportions found in the original, agreed well with it in regard to degree of bitterness and the strength of the wintergreen flavour; but small quantities of extractives of “swamp roots, field herbs, sea weeds,” etc., if present, could not have been detected in presence of so large a proportion of sugar and the bitter substance. Definite active constituents could, of course, have been found. The sediment of the original mixture, when examined with the microscope, showed traces of vegetable tissue in considerable variety.

KAROX COMPOUND.

This is supplied by the Karox Manufacturing Company from an address in the north of England, in bottles containing one fluid ounce, price 1s. 1¹⁄₂d.

The method of advertising chiefly employed in this case is the insertion in newspapers of small paragraphs having the appearance of news paragraphs, and so worded as to appear to be disinterested information supplied by the paper to its readers. The following is an example of such a paragraph:

We have recently published a prescription for the relief and cure
of Kidney and Liver Diseases, Rheumatism, etc. We regret to learn
from some of our readers that in some cases the prescription has not
been accurately dispensed, one of the ingredients being apparently
substituted by other cheaper drugs for the sake of extra profit. As
it is essential that the prescription should be dispensed accurately
if the remedy is to be beneficial, we desire to warn the readers of
this paper against such substitution, and would advise them to have
the prescription dispensed only by chemists of well-known standing,
or purchase the ingredients separately and mix them at home by
shaking well in a bottle. The correct prescription is Tincture of
Buchu, 1 oz.; Karox Compound, 1 oz.; Syrup of Lemons, 2 oz. Dose: One
teaspoonful in a wineglass of water three times daily after meals,
and at bedtime.

On the wrapper of the package “Karox Compound” is described as:

A Natural Remedy invaluable for promoting the regular action of the
Liver, Kidneys, Bowels, and Kindred Organs, purifying the blood and
building up the whole body.

Karox Compound is not a cure-all.

A large proportion of disease is the direct result of Sluggishness
of the Liver and Kidneys, and by gently stimulating these important
organs it cures Biliousness, Headaches, Constipation, Indigestion,
Jaundice, Offensive Breath, Skin Eruptions, Pains in the Back, Female
Ailments, etc.

The contents of several bottles of this preparation were examined, and were found to differ very considerably in composition. The ingredients found were magnesium sulphate, potassium citrate, alcohol, spirit of nitrous ether, sugars, vegetable extractive, and faint traces of alkaloid and formaldehyde. The magnesium sulphate varied from 1.45 to 6.87 parts per 100 parts by measure, and the potassium citrate from 4.76 to 6.55; the sugars were about 8 per cent., and the alcohol in one specimen was found to be 6 per cent. by volume. The liquid smelt strongly of spirit of nitrous ether and gave qualitative evidence of the presence of nitrite, but the amount was not sufficient to give any nitric oxide when tested in a nitrometer. The vegetable extractive was between 1 and 2 per cent., but showed no characters indicative of its source. There was a trace of sediment in the liquid, and microscopical examination of this showed the presence of yeast or yeast-like cells and the minute plants known as desmids.