FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1981
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TOO MUCH ARSENIC IN HERBAL PILL
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FORENSIC PHARMACISTS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE FOUND THAT A HERBAL PILL SOLD LOCALLY CONTAINS TOO MUCH ARSENIC.
ROUTINE SAMPLING OF THE +HAEMORRHOID PILLS+ MANUFACTURED BY A LOCAL MEDICINE COMPANY SHOWED THAT EACH PILL CONTAINED 3.1 MG OF ARSENIC, WHEREAS THE DAILY ACCEPTABLE INTAKE OF ARSENIC AS RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION IS 3.5 MG PER DAY FOR AN ADULT OF 70 KG BODY WEIGHT.
AS A DAILY DOSAGE OF 24 PILLS IS RECOMMENDED IN THE LITERATURE OF THE +HAEMORRHOID PILLS+, THIS COULD BE HARMFUL TO THE CONSUMER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE PRESENCE OF ARSENIC IN THE PILL IS DUE TO THE USE OF A CHINESE HERB CALLED REALGAR, WHICH IS ARSENIC DISULPHIDE, AS A COLOUR COAT, HE SAID.
THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HERBAL MEDICINE HAS BEEN WARNED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND HAS AGREED TO WITHDRAW ALL STOCKS FROM THE MARKET,
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT FORENSIC PHARMACY INSPECTORS ARE CLOSELY WATCHING THE SITUATION TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE STOCKS ARE WITHDRAWN.
HE ALSO WARNED THAT RETAILERS OF THE MEDICINE SHOULD RETURN THE PILLS TO THE MANUFACTURER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MAN NOT CHOLERA CASE
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A 71-YEAR-OLD SEAMAN WHO WAS ADMITTED TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL ON WEDNESDAY SUFFERING FROM DIARRHOEA AND VOMITING HAS NOT BEEN INFECTED WITH CHOLERA,
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THIS MORNING THAT LABORATORY TESTS FOR CHOLERA PROVED TO BE NEGATIVE.
HONG KONG REMAINS A CHOLERA FREE AREA ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN TWO IMPORTED CASES SO FAR THIS YEAR.
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