What's New Robert L. Park 17 Dec 2010

WHAT=92S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 14 Jan 2011   Washington, DC

1. ZICAM: BREAKTHROUGH! AT LAST, A PLACEBO WITH SIDE EFFECTS.
Although marketed as a homeopathic cold remedy, Zicam is not quite=20
homeopathic. The 18th century German inventor of homeopathy, Samuel=20
Hahnemann, believed in "vitalism," a spiritual essence that goes beyond=20
physics or chemistry. This is by no means unusual; most people believe in=
=20
spiritual or religious cures even today.  "Medicine is most powerful,"=20
Hahnemann wrote, "when it communicates nothing material."  Hahnemann=92s=20
counter-intuitive solution was to eliminate the cure. This he did by=20
sequential dilution.  Alas, Loschmidt had not yet determined Avogadro=92s=
=20
number.   To be certain that "nothing material" remained, Hahnemann=20
typically used a dilution of 30C. That is, the substance was diluted to o=
ne=20
part in 100, shaken (not stirred) and then diluted one part in 100 again,=
=20
30 times.  This would exceed the dilution limit of the entire Earth, whic=
h=20
is to say it's a meaningless result. Not so Zicam; the dilution is given =
on=20
the package as only 2X; i.e., the X means the active ingredient, zinc, is=
=20
diluted one part in 10, shaken, and diluted one part in 10 again.  Now it=
's=20
one part in 100. Compare that to Oscillococcinum, which is also marketed =
as=20
a homeopathic cold remedy. The active ingredient is an extract of the liv=
er=20
of the Barbary duck at a ridiculous dilution of 200C. That would exceed t=
he=20
dilution limit of the entire visible universe and is thus totally=20
meaningless. The average consumer is totally unaware that he=92s shelling=
 out=20
10 bucks for a teaspoon of sugar.=20

2. SUPREME COMEDY: ENTER NOW THE NINE JUSTICES.=09
The case before the Court involves a class-action suit against Matrixx, t=
he=20
makers of Zicam, for failing to inform investors of reports that its main=
=20
product might have caused some users to lose their sense of smell, a=20
condition known as anosmia.  Perhaps, but anosmia has many causes and tru=
e=20
homeopathic remedies have no side effects, or any other effects, since th=
e=20
active ingredient has been completely diluted away.  But in Zicam the=20
active ingredient, zinc, should be detectable by conventional means.  In =
a=20
brief explaining why Matrix did not feel obliged to report complaints of=20
anosmia from users of Zicam, the company lawyer drew an analogy with old=20
rumors that the Procter & Gamble logo had satanic links. The logo,=20
consisted of a bearded man's face on the Crescent moon surrounded by 13=20
stars. It was said to be a satanic distortion of the heavenly symbol=20
alluded to in Revelation 12:1.  The flowing beard meets the surrounding=20
circle with three curls that were said to be a mirror image of the number=
=20
666, the number of the beast.  The foolish rumor damaged the P&G image an=
d=20
was withdrawn. Matrixx used the example to argue that there is no=20
disclosure obligation on how "ignorant or paranoid people might react to=20
false information." I would argue however that =93ignorant or paranoid=94=
 is a=20
reasonable description of anyone who buys a homeopathic product?  The=20
government position is that negative stories, even they=92re based on=20
superstitious nonsense, should be disclosed to investors.   According to=20
the New York Times, Justice Scalia disagreed, saying it would hold=20
companies to irrational standards.  Standards? We're talking about a=20
company that is marketing fraudulent medicine to a gullible public. Infor=
m=20
the investors by all means, but first inform the public.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
University of Maryland, but they should be.
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