(F. I. D. 56.)
NAMES TO BE EMPLOYED IN DECLARING THE AMOUNT OF THE INGREDIENTS AS REQUIRED BY THE LAW.
Many inquiries are coming to this Department relative to the names that may be employed in declaring the quantity or proportion of the ingredients, as required by Congress.
The following are representative:
The word "alcohol" has received so much unfavorable notoriety during the last few
years that we hesitate to place it upon our labels. Could we not employ some other words
in place of it, such as "cologne spirits," "spirits of wine," "pure grain alcohol," etc.?
Would it be satisfactory for us to use "Phenylacetamid," or the following formula, C_{6}H_{5}(CH_{3}CO), for the chemical acetanilid?
One of our preparations contains trichlorethidene ethyl alcoholate, which would undoubtedly under the law be considered a derivative of chloral hydrate. Will it be satisfactory for us to use this name on our trade packages in giving the amount of this chemical present in the product?
In the manufacture of some of our products we use opium. It would, however, be a financial loss to state this fact on the label. Could we not say this preparation contains 20 grains of the concentrated extract of the Papaver somniferum to the fluid ounce?
Dover's power is mentioned in the regulations as one of the preparations of opium. It would seem sufficient at first glance that Dover's powder as a preparation, if mentioned on the label, would be all that could be required as to opium.
One of the objects of the law is to inform the consumer of the presence of certain drugs
in medicines, and the above terms do not give the average person any idea as to the presence
or absence of such drugs. In enumerating the ingredients, the quantity or proportion
of which is required to be given upon the principal label of any medicinal preparation
in which such ingredients may be present, the act uses only common names, and
the permission to use any but such common names for any ingredients required to be
declared upon the label is neither expressed nor implied in any part of the law.
The term used for acetanilid is "acetanilid" and not phenylacetamid. No reference is made to the use of the chemical formula in designating the presence of chemicals. The words "chloral hydrate" appear in the act, but not the chemical name trichlorethidene glycol. It can readily be seen that if the act were not closely adhered to in this connection there would soon be such a confusion and multiplicity of names and phrases that one of the objects of the act would be defeated.
The names to be employed in stating the quantity or proportion of the ingredients required by the act to appear on the label of all medicinal preparations containing same are—
First. Those used in the law for the articles enumerated; example, "alcohol," not "spiritus rectificatus."
Second. In the case of derivatives: (a) The name of the parent substance used in the act should constitute part of the name; example, "chloral acetone," not "trichlorethidene dimethyl ketone." (b) The trade-name, accompanied in parentheses by the name of the parent substance; example, "dionin (morphin derivative)."
Third. Names of preparations containing the name of some ingredient used in the act. In such cases the name used in the act should constitute the first portion of the name of the preparation. (See F. I. D. 55.)
Fourth. Common names (such as laudanum, Dover's powder, etc.) of preparations containing an ingredient enumerated in the law, provided such name or names are accom-
