[reprint from the therapeutic gazette, may, 1884, PAGE 204.] 
Fellows' Hypophosphites. 
BY A. B. LYONS, M. D„ DETROIT, MICH 
I have been frequently asked by physicians what I thought of Fellows' hypophosphites. 
My reply has always been: " Like other nostrums it is probably a useful medicine, but until 
its manufacturers see fit to publish its formula, it cannot be prescribed intelligently-and, 
no doubt, if the formula were published, it would be found to cover no very profound 
or precious secret. At all events, it would probably cost the patient no more if the 
medicine were dispensed on the physician's own prescription." 
Such a reply, however, based on broad general principles, and applicable to all patent 
medicines and copyrighted medicinal preparations, does not completely satisfy the physician 
who has the testimony of individuals, very likely his own patients, to the beneficial effects 
they have experienced from the remedy, possibly after medicines prescribed by the doctor 
had been reported as doing no good. 
The advertisement of this particular secret remedy meets one at every turn in the medi- 
cal journals of America, and I never see it without feeling as a member of the medical 
profession, at once ashamed and indignant. Putting aside the personal sense of humilia- 
tion, I could indeed find amusement in the lofty indifference manifested therein alike to 
scientific precision of statement, and grammatical accuracy of expression. 
The peculiar disjointed mode of printing the word " Hypo-Phos-Phites " in the heading 
of the advertisement prepares one for the painfully amusing incoherencies which follow. 
We are told, with superfluity of capitals, that the preparation contains " the essential ele- 
ments to the animal organization, potash and lime." To say nothing of the awkward 
linking of the words, or of the antiquated chemical views which include potash and lime 
among the elements, we are at a loss to understand why potash and lime in preference to 
iron and phosphorus are singled out as essential to the animal " organization." 
Iron and manganese are next named as constituents of this remedy and are 
characterized as "oxydizing agents." It is true that, from the facility with which it receives 
and parts with oxygen, iron plays an important part in the oxygenation of the blood. 
That manganese reinforces the action of iron as a hematic tonic, seems to be estab- 
lished as a fact of clinical observation, but I do not know that we are entitled from 
this fact to draw the conclusion that manganese is an oxidizing or even an oxygenating 
agent. However, we all have our favorite hypotheses in regard to the action of medi- 
cinal agents, and it is perhaps out of place to criticise too minutely those propounded by 
others-so long as they are not either antedeluvian or preposterous. 2 
fellows' hypophosphites. 
We are told that the preparation contains the "tonics" quinine and strychnine-but 
no statement is made in regard to the quantities of these tonics. What physician will 
take the responsibility of prescribing such a deadly " tonic " as strychnine in an unknown 
dose? 
Finally, our shot-gun has yet another missile making up its charge, viz " Phos- 
phorus, the vitalizing constituent. " Why not devitalizing? Administered to rodents in he 
form of phosphorus paste, the element has anything but a "vitalizing' effect. 
There is a wide-spread belief, whether with or without foundation, that phosphorus 
is, somehow, intimately connected with manifestations of intelligence. A few years ago 
Prof. Agassiz threw out the suggestion that a fish diet would be appropriate to brain 
workers, because fish contains so much phosphorus, and in spite of the circumstance that 
fish does not contain a very large proportion of phosphorus, the recommendation has become 
a commonplace of amateur prescribing. But intelligence is«not vitality, and medical practice 
has never attributed to phosphorus any peculiar life-giving power. Still "vitalizing con- 
stituent " sounds well-by all means retain that in the advertisement. 
The various constituents of this medicine, we are told, are " combined in the form 
of a syrup, with slight alkaline reaction." (sic.) In spite of the evidence afforded by 
litmus paper we are willing to concede the alkaline reaction, but, what of it ? 
The next statement is either meaningless, or else implies what is not true. It reads: 
" It differs in effect from all others, being pleasant to taste, acceptable to the stomach, and 
harmless under prolonged use." The first proposition is no doubt true. Differing essen- 
tially in composition, if we are to believe the preceding statements, from any other 
preparation sold under a similar name, it ought to differ widely in its effects, but the 
difference does not extend to the particulars specified. 
Reading further, we learn that "its curative properties are largely attributable 
to stimulant, tonic, and nutritive qualities, whereby the various organic functions are 
recruited." 
It is difficult to understand how the functions of an organ can be recruited. What 
is wanted, one would suppose, is not more functions, but more vigor in the exercise of 
those already assigned to each organ. It is interesting to know that in addition to stim- 
ulant, tonic and nutritive qualities, there is a reserve of unnamed medicinal virtues in the 
remedy which shall "largely" increase the range of its usefulness. We are glad too, to 
be assured that "in cases where innervating constitutional treatment is applied, and tonic 
treatment is desirable, this preparation will be found to act with safety and satisfaction," but 
we were not prepared for the startling announcement that this remedy "enters directly into 
the circulation with the food products." Such an anomalous behavior of a powerful medi- 
cine should score a good point in its favor, unless, indeed, it involves risk of producing its 
effects too suddenly. 
Finally, we have a supplementary statement of the therapeutic properties of the 
preparation to the effect that "it exerts a double tonic effect, and influences a healthy 
flow of the secretions." Precisely what is the nature of this influence we are not told, 
but it certainly must not be omitted from consideration in attempting to form a just esti- 
mate of the value of the medicine. If only the remedy could exert also an influence 
over morbid conditions of the secretory apparatus, it would leave nothing to be desired. 
Price per bottle of fifteen oz., containing 128 doses, $1.50. To physicians a 
sample bottle will be sent, express charges prepaid, for fifty cents. 
In the old fable the preposterous ears betrayed the ass, who hoped to command re- 
spect of man and beast by masquerading in a lion's skin. So in this advertisement, al- 
though found in the columns of a reputable medical journal, there lurks under a very FELLOWS* HYPOPHOSPHITES. 
thin disguise something that has the unmistakable ear-marks of quackery. There is a 
largeness and looseness in the phraseology which is very characteristic, and it scarcely 
needed that last touch to make the revelation complete. 
First impressions, however, are not always to be trusted, but circumstances have 
put it in my way to make a more intimate acquaintance with the preparation, with the re- 
sult of confirming my dark forebodings. In the Pharmaceutische Rundschau, for Feb. 
1884, I met with an analysis made by A. Gawalowski of Fellows' hypophosphites, and 
originally published in the Rundschau fiirdie Interess. die Phar. 1884. 
The composition of the syrup was stated as follows: 
3 
Water 38.375 
Glucose and Saccharose 56.600 
Ferrous hypophosphite 0.846 
Sulphates of calcium and iron traces. 
Strychnine and brucine 0.150 
Extractive (aqueous) from nux vomica, 4.009 
To prepare a similar syrup one should employ, not an alcoholic,but an aqueous extract 
of nux vomica, like that of the Ph. Germ. 1872. The author believes that the imitations of 
this syrup that have been heretofore offered, differ from the original mainly in containing 
the alcoholic rather than the aqueous extract, and proposes the following formula: 
Syr. simp 82.6 
Syr. ferri hypophos 7.5 
Ext. nucis vomica: aq., Ph. Germ., 9.9 
The analysis of Gawalowski does not agree at all with the statements that have 
been already quoted from Fellows' advertisement. Further, there are inconsistencies in 
the results reported, if the figures have been correctly transcribed, which forbid us to 
accept the analysis as final. If it is true that the preparation contains in each dose % gr. of 
strychnine and brucine combined, we cannot wonder that it is an active medicinal agent. 
Nux vomica contains these two alkaloids generally in nearly equal proportions; at all events 
one third of the alkaloid may be assumed to be strychnine, making each dose of one teaspoon- 
ful equal to about one-twelfth grain of strychnine. The extract nux vomica employed 
must have been of very poor quality, for it must have contained less than four per cent, of 
alkaloids. The crude drug generally contains nearly three per cent. Further, in the pro- 
posed formula, the amount of extract nux vomica is doubled, so that one teaspoonful of 
the preparation will contain about 7.% grains. • This would seem to be an excessive 
dose, equivalent, at the lowest estimate, to about one-third of a grain of strychnine. 
My curiosity was excited to ascertain the actual facts in the case, and I accordingly 
made, myself, a somewhat careful examination of Fellows' "hypo-phos-phites." 
I found that the contents of a bottle of the syrup measured 424 c.c. (14% fluidounces)- 
As this is said to be sufficient for 128 doses, I conclude that the dose of this medicine is 
53% minims or one small teaspoonful. The syrup had a density of 1.305 at 150 C,, (590 
Fah.), was of a neutral reaction, certainly not alkaline-somewhat viscid, of a pale 
yellowish color, but containing a bulky dingy greenish precipitate; somewhat fluorescent in a 
strong light, distinctly but not disagreeably bitter, with a peculiar clinging property when 
taken into the mouth. 
Qualitative tests showed that the preparation consists "largely" of a glucose syrup. 
On igniting a portion of it, there remained an ash amounting to somewhat less than one per 4 
fellows' hypophosphites. 
cent, of the syrup, showing that its total inorganic constituents do not exceed 4.5 grains to 
the fluid ounce. 
The syrup contains .0615 per cent, of alkaloids, consisting of a mixture of quinine 
and strychnine. Brucine is absent, showing that in this particular sample of the "hypo- 
phos-phites" extract of nux vomica had not been used. I did not attempt a complete separa- 
tion of the alkaloids, but convinced myself that at least two-thirds of the entire amount was 
quinine. The ash contains lime, potash, iron and manganese; the total amount was so 
small that I was content to rest satisfied with a qualitative examination merely. 
These bases were present chiefly in the form of hypophosphites, with traces of 
sulphates. By converting the phosphorus into phosphoric acid, precipitating with magnesia 
mixture, in presence of tartaric acid, and titrating the precipitate, dissolved in acetic acid, 
with uranic acetate, I determined the phosphorus, which, in the form of hyphoposphorous 
acid was sufficient in amount nearly to neutralize all the bases present. 
From these data it is easy to construct a formula which shall practically reproduce 
Fellows' hypo-phos-phites. The preparation must be made from a syrup containing a large 
proportion of glucose-not because glucose is cheap, but in order that the preparation may 
" enter directly into the circulation with the food products." If made with a cane-sugar 
syrup this will have to undergo a process of digestion previous to the absorption of the 
saccharine constituent, which, by the way, ought to have been enumerated among the 
nutritive constituents of the syrup. A preparation substantially identical with thqt of 
Fellows will contain as its medicinal ingredients, besides glucose in each fluidounce: 
Calcium hypophosphite x grain. 
Potassium " " 
Iron " x% " 
Manganese " x " 
Quinine " 7-16 " 
Strychnine " x-16 " 
The addition of a few drops of acid to the preparation, will make a clear syrup, instead of 
a turbid unsightly mixture like the original, but the product will be more decidedly bitter, 
and ii may be as well, perhaps, to omit the acid. 
If a malt extract rich in diastase were employed in place of the glucose syrup, no doubt 
a preparation of much superior efficacy would result, and it seems as though an increase in 
the proportion of the hypophosphites would increase its activity. 
It is easy to figure out the cost of a syrup made in accordance with the above out- 
lined formula, and the result of this little mathematical calculation would furnish food 
for reflection. 
There is nothing in the mixture, and there does not claim to be anything, which 
physicians do not prescribe every day. The physician raises a question of ethics at once, 
if his neighbor practitioner claims to possess a secret of great value, charging propor- 
tionately for his services, when in fact there are no secrets of any value in the practice of 
medicine. If compelled to divulge his secrets, the quack invariably proves to be a pretender, 
and what is true in medical practice is true in pharmacy. Charlatanry in the compound- 
ing of medicines is not more honorable than in the prescribing of them. If physicians 
can only keep distinctly before them this axiomatic principle, they will save themselves 
from endless annoyance at the hands of vendors of medicinal compounds, "pro- 
tected " by illegitimate trade-marks, - the modern, high-toned substitute for the old- 
fashioned, vulgar patent medicines. No reputable physician, to-day, will write a pres- 
cription for Jayne's expectorant, or Warner's safe kidney and liver cure. But in principle 
it is not a whit better to order Horsford's acid phosphates, or Battle's bromidia. In place Fellows' hypophosphites. 
5 
of the former, he may write liq. acidi phosphorici, and thus throw the weight of his influence 
in favor of legitimate pharmacy. For the latter let him prescribe such a combination of seda- 
tive agents as he believes will suit the case in hand-unless, indeed, he have so litle confi- 
dence in his own skill that he prefers to throw on some other unknown person the respon- 
sibility which should be his own. 
In the present instance, I would propose that in place of the nostrum "Fellow's hypo- 
phos-phites," the physician prescribe syrup hypophosphites comp, with quin., strych. and 
manganese, meaning by this a syrup containing the medicinal constituents named above. 
To prepare such a syrup, the following working formula may be employed: 
Glucose i lb. 
Simple syrup i pt. 
Hypophosphite calcium 128 grs. 
Hypophosphite potassium 48 grs. 
Sulphate iron 48 grs. 
Sulphate manganese 32 grs. 
Sulphate quinine 14 grs. 
Sulphate strychnine 2 grs. 
Water, q. s. 
Dissolve the calcium and potassium hypophosphites in two fluid ounces of warm 
water. Add to one ounce of water three fluid drachms of the syrup and dissolve in the 
mixture by the aid of heat, the remainder of the salts. Mix the solutions and set by a few 
hours, covered, to deposit the sulphate of calcium which is formed. Filter into a bottle con- 
taining the remainder of the syrup, wash the residue with an ounce of boiling water, mix 
filtrate and washings with the syrup; dissolve the glucose in the mixture, and add through 
the filter enough water to make two pints. The formula would be improved by substi- 
tuting for the glucose a refined extract of malt like that prepared by Gehe, in Germany. 
The proportion of the medicinal ingredients in the syrup, it is true, is small; I shall 
not warrant it to perform miracles of cure. It is simply offered as a substitute for 
Fellows' hypo-phos-phites; whatever therapeutic efficiency that nostrum has, we may 
count upon obtaining equally from this syrup. 6 
FELLOWS' HYPOPHOSPHITES AND OTHER 
[COMMUNICATION IN THE THERAPEUTIC GAZETTE, MAY, 1884, PAGE 2l6.'1 
Fellows' Hypophosphites. 
I have been thinking for some time of calling attention to Fellows' Compound 
Syrup of Hypophosphites, and, if it be not asking too much, to request you to publish 
an analysis of the same. 
Other compounds that are put in the market in a similar way that it is, have been 
analyzed, and as this is one that has an extensive sale, both to consumers direct as 
well as through the profession, I have wondered why it has thus far escaped such 
notice. 
In this region it has considerable patronage, and many physicians are convinced 
that it is not without merits, though probably no well informed physician believes it 
contains the amount of hypophosphites that is claimed for it. 
For my own part, I am a believer in the beneficial action of small doses of active 
medicines, especially when used as tonics and restoratives; and I am inclined to believe 
that aside from the "booming" this medicine has received by "drummers" and adver- 
tising, that its success lies in the amount of strychnia which it contains, probably sup- 
plemented somewhat by small amounts of quinine and iron which are also incorporated 
in it. 
Now, as this is one of the " protected " medicines, and is sold at a most exorbitant 
price, it would be doing a great good to the trade and to the profession to properly in- 
form us about it. 
In fact, it would be interesting to understand just exactly why it is that we have 
so many "protected" medicines, and it seems to me that men engaged in honorable 
and (morally) legitimate pharmacy, could serve "their day and generation" in no better 
way than coming to the front with plain, undeniable facts concerning them. 
M. R. MORDEN, M. D. 
Adrian, Michigan. 
[editorial in the therapeutic gazette, may, 1884, PAGE 219.] 
Fellows' Hypo-phos-phites and Other Prepa- 
rations of that Kidney. 
We have given in another department of this issue, and in response to numerous 
inquiries of the nature of those published, some facts bearing on the proprietary com 
pound extensively advertised under the name of Fellows' Hypo-phos-phites. Our readers 
will draw from these their own conclusions. This nostrum differs in no essential par- 
ticular, as regards its ethical relations, from the multitude of trade-marked preparations, 
which, in spite of their pseudo-scientific and absurd claims, have been made sources of 
profitable pecuniary return to their manufacturers, directly and indirectly through the 
patronage of medical practitioners. We have, in season, and sometimes, perhaps, out of PREPARATIONS OF THAT KIDNEY. 
7 
season, advised the medical profession of the gross injustice it does, not only the public, 
but also itself, in becoming the pliant instrument in the hands of astute non-professional 
vendors, for introducing their wares into public confidence. The evidence that this in- 
justice is beginning to be recognized is accumulating. Thinking men in the profession 
are becoming aroused to the necessity of withdrawing their countenance from the 
specious frauds which they have been induced to patronize, and we have earnests that 
ere many years have passed, an appreciation of the proper relations which the prac- 
titioners of medicine bear to their co-workers in a different part of the same field, viz., 
the pharmacists, will prevail among the great body of reputable physicians. The dawn 
of that hoped-for era in the history of medicine in this country, will be hastened by an 
appreciation of the fact that illegitimate pharmacy possesses no open sesame into the 
secrets of nature, that it may recover from her store-houses aught which is denied the 
conscientious scientist, who is prompted to research through desire to enrich his humane 
profession, rather than to amass wealth through imposition on suffering humanity. 
We frequently hear it urged in extenuation of the patent and the copyrighted name, 
as applied to medicinal compounds, that "when a man invents a good thing he should 
be allowed to reap the benefits .thereof; refuse to protect the inventor and you paralyze 
progress." We are not disposed to dispute the correctness of this position, and, loyal 
as we are to the Code of Ethics of our profession, we should have much sympathy with 
the inventor of a valuable medicinal compound, or the discoverer of a drug hitherto un- 
known for therapeutic value, should he seek some means whereby he might reap returns 
for his investment of scientific knowledge, or the time, labor and capital expended in 
the invention or discovery. But what medicinal compound is there now on the market 
whose "invention" or "discovery" has involved the devotion of any scientific knowl- 
edge, or the utilization of any facts which are not the common property of the profes- 
sion? Nay, more, what nostrum is there, the formula for which has not been deliberately 
filched from the medical profession ? The prescription files in drug stores are the source 
whence we have the vast majority of our cure-alls. What knowledge is there, for in- 
stance, required in the preparation of Bromidia, or lodia, or Scott's Emulsion, or Pan- 
creo-Pepsin, or Papine, or Acid Phosphates, et id genus omne, that the manufacturers of 
these preparations should have such right thereto, as enables them to demand of the 
public exorbitant prices for them ? 
Our colleague has done the profession good service, through his analysis of Fellows' 
Hypophosphites, published in his article in our present issue, and in his presentation of 
a formula for a preparation of the same nature, but more in conformity to the rules of 
scientific pharmacy and rational therapeutics. Such a preparation can be made by the 
competent retail pharmacist, or the manufacturing chemist, who, after allowing for a 
legitimate margin of profit, can sell it at a price much reduced from that asked for the 
proprietary compound. We would suggest the name ' Hematic Hypophosphites*" for 
such a preparation. It is at once euphonious and convenient, and suggestive of the in- 
gredients entering into it. It behooves physicians to prescribe such substitutions as this 
for the nostrums, for the introduction of which to the public they are sought to be 
made the cat's-paws. Let them eschew every protected or proprietary preparation for 
which their patronage is solicited, and it will not be long before the semblance of the 
distinction between the patent medicines, whose virtues are blazoned forth in the post- 
ers on fences and dead-walls, and the semi-respectable, pseudo-scientific, trade-marked 
nostrums which are advertised in medical journals, will be effaced. When that time 
comes, pharmacists and physicians will work together with greater harmony, and to 
greater mutual profit. 
*See last page of this oiroular. HEMATIC HYPOPHOSPHITES. 
Based upon Analysis of Fellows' Hypo-phos-phites: 
Glucose and maltose Troy ounces. 
Calcium hypophosphite 16 grains. 
Potassium hypophosphite 24 grains. 
Iron hypophosphite 24 grains. 
Manganese hypophosphite 16 grains. 
Quinine hypophosphite 7 grains. 
Strychnine hypophosphite 1 grain. 
Simple syrup...." 8 nuidounces. 
Water, q. s. to make one pint. 
This preparation might be called with propriety syrup hypophosphites comp, with 
iron, manganese, quinine and strychnine, but physicians may reasonably object to such 
a sesquipedalian designation, and besides there is already in the market a preparation 
differing essentially from this in composition which bears a similar name.* 
We are aware that such a name is open to criticism, but it has the merit 
of brevity and it is in character with the preparation itself, which makes no claims as a 
scientific combination of remedial agents. It is simply a substitute for the nostrum ex- 
tensively advertised under the name of Fellows' hypo-phos phites, and all that we claim 
for it is that it does faithfully reproduce in all essential particulars that preparation. 
Physicians have frequently asked us whether we could not furnish a substitute for 
Fellows' hypophosphites which they could prescribe intelligently. An analysis of that 
article recently publisned (Therapeutic Gazette, May, 1884) enables us to do this. We 
have even ventured to improve upon the original, following the suggestion offered in the 
article alluded to, by substituting a decolorized extract of malt for a portion of the 
glucose in the original. The only merit possessed by the glucose is its cheapness. 
Malt extract on the other hand has a well recognized value in promoting nutrition; 
hence we may fairly claim for our product superiority over that which it is intended to 
substitute. 
It will be remarked that the medicinal constituents of the syrup are present in 
very small proportion. We prepare syrups which contain a much larger quantity of the 
same medicinal agents, which the physician may prescribe where he believes that large 
doses a-e indicated. If, however, he has obtained beneficial results in the use of 
Fellow's hy pophosphites, or desires to test the value of that highly lauded combination, 
he wdl find in the hematic hypophosphites a preparation practically identical with that 
which bears the autograph of James I. Fellows. 
In the debilitated conditions in which the preparations of the hypophosphites are 
usually prescribed, minute doses often exert a more favorable influence than the full 
doses which the physician is tempted to prescribe. In cases of nervous exhaustion 
especially recuperation is necessarily slow, and medication to be successful must be based 
on the maxim festina lente. 
The combination of remedies is one adapted to a great variety of diseased con- 
ditions. It is likely to prove useful wherever there is debility or depraved nutrition, but 
it is especially appropriate in cases of anemia and nervous prostration, in consumption, 
and in all scrofulous and tubercular affections. 
Physicians will, however, be able better than we to recognize the rational indica- 
tions for its use. 
* In an editorial article in the Therapeutic Gazette, May, 1884, the name " Hematic Hypophosphites " is 
suggested. See page 7 of this circular. 
PARKE, DAVIS & CO., 
Manufacturing Chemists, 
DETROIT, MICH. 
NEW YORK BRANCH: 
60 Maiden Lane, 
21 Liberty Street.