APPENDIX. The following is a letter received from Professor H. W. Wiley, Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture: MR. GEORGE M. KOBER, 923 H Street, N. W., DEAR SIR: Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., November 4, 1908. Your favor of October 27 at hand and in reply desire to state that the question of Drug Habit has received considerable attention by the Division of Drugs, and could place at your disposal much valuable information. We are collecting this information as rapidly as possible and expect in the near future to submit to the Secretary for approval and publication, a bulletin dealing with Acetanilid, Antipyrin and Phenacetin. We also are in possession of information as to the institutions and their methods of treating unfortunate drug habitues, particularly those addicted to the use of Opium, Morphine, Cocaine, etc. I am enclosing copies of two bills which were introduced at the last session of Congress. The object of these bills is to regulate and minimize the evil at present resulting from the indiscriminate sale and use of the agents enumerated therein. If you could make it convenient to visit the Drug laboratory of this Bureau, we would be in a position to place at your disposal much information which would be of great assistance to you in your work. Respectfully, Chief. The following is a letter received from Dr. Lyman F. Kebler, Chief, Division of Drugs, U. S. Department of Agriculture: DR. GEORGE M. KOBER, No. 1819 Q Street, DEAR SIR: Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C., November 21, 1908. I am herewith transmitting data on the following subjects: The Harmful Effects of Acetanilid, Antipyrine, and Acetphenetidin (Phenacetin); Cancer Cures; Female Pills; Soft Drinks Containing Caffeine, etc.; The Dope Question; Consumption Cures; Habit Cures, and Prescription Nostrums. I did not include the list of headache remedies for the reason that they are not as yet complete. We have found approximately 365 which have a fairly large sale, that is more than the local sale of a drug store, but not more than one-half of same have been investigated in the Division of Drugs. I shall be pleased to forward you the entire list with the understanding that there might be one or two which are not actually headache remedies but are believed to be such from the trading name. Respectfully, L. F. KEBLER, Chief, Division of Drugs. Enclosure: Manuscript. SOFT DRINKS CONTAINING CAFFEINE AND EXTRACTS OF COCA LEAF AND KOLA NUT. By LYMAN F. KEBLER, M. D., PH. D. Chief, Division of Drugs, U. S. Department of Agriculture. During the past decade soda fountain specialties containing caffeine, extract of kola nut and extract of coca leaf, the active principle of which is cocaine, have been offered in considerable quantities and, due to extensive and attractive advertising, both as beverages and as headache remedies and nerve tonics, their sale has assumed large proportions. The first appearance of preparations of this type was in the south in the eighties, their introduction following the success which Moxie had attained in the East, though this particular drink was of an entirely different character. From the South the demand spread to other sections and the number of products has increased until at the present time there are probably over one hundred of them bottled and sold all over the United States. The greatest demand is still in the South, however, and almost every drug store, confectionery shop and fruit stand has its favorite product on sale. The carbonated goods in bottled form are offered on the trains. People of all classes, young and old, delicate women, and even little children consume these beverages indiscriminately and no warning is ever given of the baneful effect of the powerful habit-forming drugs concealed therein. It is therefore small wonder that the prevalence of the so-called "Coca Cola fiend" is becoming a matter of great importance and concern. It is well known that some of these products are mixed under the most unsanitary conditions. The sugar, water and drug material will be dumped into a pot standing in the cellar of some low building, or even a stable, where the ceiling is covered with dust, cobwebs and dirt of all descriptions and the floor littered with filth. The steam from the boiling kettle, condensing on the ceiling, collects the dirt in the drops of water and this soon falls back into the mixture. Again, the sirup will boil over onto the floor and a sticky mass remains which soon collects straw and filth of all descriptions and becomes a rendezvous for flies and other vermin, for usually no attempt is made to clean it up. Judging from the names of most of these products it would appear that extract of kola nut is one of the chief ingredients, and, while in certain instances this drug is undoubtedly present, in most cases the caffeine has been added as the alkaloid caffeine obtained from refuse tea sweepings or made artificially from uric acid occurring in the Guano deposits of South America, or in the citrated form, and the sirup colored with caramel. The cocaine found is usually added in the form of extract of coca leaf. Some of the manufacturers claim that the extract used is prepared from a decocainized coca leaf, the refuse product discarded in the manufacture of cocaine. An investigation of these products was undertaken about a year ago and it was found that the following products contained both caffeine and extract of coca leaf: Afri Cola, The Afri Cola Co., Atlanta, Ga. Ala Cola, Ala Bottling Works, Bessemer, Ala. Cafe Coca, Athens Bottling Works, Athens, Ga. Carre Cola, E. Carre Co., Mobile, Ala. Celery Cola, The Celery Cola Co., Birmingham, Ala.; Dallas, Texas; Nashville, Tenn., and St. Louis, Mo. Chan Ola, L. M. Channell, New Orleans, La. Chera Cola, Union Bottling Works, Columbus, Ga. Coca Beta, The Coca Beta Co., New York City. Coca Beta, Southern California Supply Co., Los Angeles, Cal. Coca Cola, Coca Cola Co., Atlanta, Ga. Pilsbury's Coke, A. L. Pilsbury, Jr., Co., New Orleans, La. Cola Coke, Lehman-Rosenfeld Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. (This preparation was formerly sold under the name of Rocco Cola.) Cream Cola, Jebeles & Calias Co., Birmingham, Ala. Dope, Rainbow Bottling Co., Atlanta, Ga. Four Kola, Big Four Bottling Works, Waco, Texas. Hayo Kola, Hayo Kola Co., Norfolk, Va. Lime Cola, Alabama Grocery Co., Birmingham, Ala. Mellow Nip, Rainbow Bottling Co., Atlanta, Ga. Nerv Ola, Henry K. Wampole & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Revive Ola, O. L. Gregory Vinegar Co., Birmingham, Ala. Rye Ola, Rye Ola Co., Birmingham, Ala. Standard Cola, The Standard Bottling Co., Denver, Col. Tokola, Samuel Smith & Co., Chicago, Ill. Vani Kola, Vani Kola Company, Canton, Ohio. Vim-O, Vim-O Company, Eagle Lake, Texas. French Wine of Coca, Wine of Coca Co., Boston, Mass. Wise Ola, The Wise Ola Co., Birmingham, Ala. The following preparations were found to contain caffeine, but there was no evidence to the effect that coca leaf in any form had been used in their manufacture: Calycine, Calycine Co., Norfolk, Va. Celery Cocoa, Celery Cocoa Co., Los Angeles, Cal. Citro Cola, Miners Fruit Nectar Co., Boston, Mass. Deep Rock Ginger Ale, Abney Bros., Athens, Ga. Fosko, E. Carre Co., Mobile, Ala. Heck's Star Pepsin, Mrs. Ida Heck, Nashville, Tenn. Koke, Coan & Harbin, Bluff City Bottling Co., Memphis, Tenn. Koke Ola, Eagle Bottling Co., Frankfort, Ky. Kalafra, Mead Johnson Co., Jersey City, N. J. Kumfort, The Kumfort Co., Atlanta, Ga. Lime Juice & Kola, Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit, Mich. Lon Kola, Lon Kola Co., Danville, Ky. Meg-O, Parr Bros., Baltimore, Md. Mexicola, Celiko Bottling Works, Raleigh, N. C. Pau Pau Cola, Pau Pau Cola Co., Detroit, Mich. Pedro, N. J. Parker & Co., Washington, D. C. Pepsi Cola, C. D. Bradham, New Bern, N. C. Speed Ball, E. Pilzer, Speed Ball Co., Inc., Washington, D. C. Vril, Brand Bros., Chicago, Ill. Besides the above preparations which have been analyzed a number were reported from different parts of the country but no samples were submitted. From their names, and from what evidence there was submitted, they contain either caffeine or coca leaf extract, or both: Charcola, H. C. Metzger, Meridian, Miss. Cherry Kola, Williamsport, Pa. Cola Soda, Jacob House & Sons, Buffalo, N. Y. Coca Ginger, National Beverage Co., Atlanta and Chattanooga. Field's Cola, H. C. Field, High Point, N. C. Imported French Cola, Alabama Grocery Co., Birmingham, Ala. (Claimed to be carbonated Wiseola.) Jacob's Kola, Tampa, Florida. Koko Ale, Salt Lake City Soda Water Co., Salt Lake City. Kola Cream, The Henzerling Co., Baltimore, Md. Kola Pepsin Celery Wine Tonic, W. J. Miller, Cleveland, Ohio. Schelhorns Cola, Evansville Bottling Co., Evansville, Ind. Vine Cola, California Commercial Co., Los Angeles, Cal. Viz, Alabama Grocery Co., Birmingham, Ala. (Claimed to be carbonated Wiseola.) HABIT CURES. By LYMAN F. KEBLER, M. D., PH. D. Chief, Division of Drugs, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Nostrums for the cure of the drug and liquor habits are widely advertised throughout the country in the public press. A request for further information, with regard to the subject of one of the advertisements, is followed by the receipt of printed matter setting forth the virtues of the remedy, and a "symptom blank” whereon the inquirer is expected to state over his signature the kind of drug he is using and the dose which he is accustomed to take daily. Upon returning this blank, filled out, the inquirer is informed as to the price at which the remedy in question can be procured. This is usually at a specified price per bottle, or treatment, treatment being reckoned by the month. Some concerns do not employ the symptom blank but sell their products to all who apply, without question. In almost every case the remedy contains a generous proportion of an opiate, usually in the form of morphine. Ostensibly the treatment is based upon the reduction plan; the patient is advised to give up the use of the drug which he was formerly taking and to depend entirely upon the remedy, and to reduce the daily dose of this at regular intervals until he finally does away with its use entirely. This, as a matter of fact, he never does because he finds it just as difficult to break away from the morphinecontaining "support" as from the straight morphine which he formerly took. Meantime the concern which furnishes the nostrum reaps pecuniary benefit. Most of the nostrums for the cure of the liquor habit depend for their efficacy upon the nauseating qualities of the ingredients which they contain. * ** The remedy can be taken voluntarily by the patient himself, or administered secretly by introducing it surreptitiously into his food or drink. Promises of a most alluring character are held out with regard to the latter method of administration, and the wives and mothers of drunkards have been known to go to great lengths to procure the money wherewith to purchase these nostrums. The result of both methods of administration is the same: the patient's stomach and digestion are injured, perhaps permanently, and no real good is accomplished. A list of the "cures" for the drug and alcohol habits is given below. HABITS. W. J. Carney, 567 Lebanon Street, Melrose, Mass. Opium. Harris Institute, 400 West 23d Street, New York. Drugs. O. P. Coates Co., 917-919 New York Life Bldg., Kansas City. Drugs. Habitina. Dr. Stewart-Hord Sanitarium, 360 Franklin Avenue, Shelbyville, Ind. Drugs. Waterman Institute, 14-18 Lexington Avenue, New York. Drugs. Cedarcroft Sanitarium, Lebanon, Tenn. New Malay Opium Cure, Rev. J. C. Ives, 134 E. 25th Street, New York. |