In May 2002, we eagerly published Ed Glenn's inquiry into Sperti Ointment, knowing our readers always rise to such challenges. What we didn't expect was the volume of excitement such a little tube of cream generated -- nearly two dozen phone calls, letters and e-mails.

Was the topic that intriguing? Did we place Ed's letter in just the right spot? (Robert Funk, CCM '64, MM '66, points out, "The photo of the police officer and the dummy drew our attention to the 'Sticky Question.'") Or was Dr. George Sperti, Eng '23, such a dear man that he simply triggered warm memories?

Excerpts from the letters follow for you to decide for yourself:

I was just teasing my mother-in-law about always telling me to use Sperti Ointment on a burn, even though nobody has ever had any since I joined the family. Then in your magazine, I found a man looking for the cream. Did you find any answers? I know my mother-in-law will think I am a smart cookie if I am able to find some ointment.
S. Harlow
Via e-mail

When I was in school, my mother always used Sperti's Bio-Dyne for all my cuts, scrapes and burns. I became familiar with its unforgettable, unique odor. Later in life, when I had need for Preparation H, I rediscovered that same unique odor.

I concluded that Preparation H was either the same or very similar to the no-longer available Sperti Ointment. So I began using Preparation H for cuts, scrapes, and burns with great success. All of my first aid kits contain a small tube of Preparation H.
Charles Wallace, Eng. '58
Amston, Conn.

I had the pleasure of being George Sperti's physician toward the end of his life. He was a charming Italian gentleman, was a member of the Italian Academy of Scientists, was not married and had a manufacturing factory in Kenton County until just before his death. Sperti's Bio-Dyne was the official name of the ointment, but its use and value faded in the antibiotic era.
Raymond Timmerman, A&S '47, MD '51
Ft. Thomas, Ky.

Because I publish medical newsletters, I have access to a wealth of information on pharmaceuticals. On Sept. 19, 1996, the Food and Drug Administration withdrew the drug application for Sperti Bio-Dyne Ointment, after repeated failure of the Sperti Co., which has been out of existence for some time, to file the required FDA reports. Accordingly, the product is no longer available.

The U.S. FDA is tough about product claims without appropriate clinical studies. Sperti's Bio-Dyne may be one of these products, even though it had been available for many years. It's too expensive for companies to conduct complete clinical studies, costing millions of dollars, on products such as this.

Dr. Sperti also developed the Sperti Sunlamp for tanning. There are many on sale on the e-Bay auction every day.
Irvin Goodman, Pharm '60
Cincinnati

I made a few inquires regarding Sperti Ointment since it was a mainstay in my home. The product was marketed with Whitehall, which merged with Wyeth labs. Whitehall-Robins Canadian Consumer Service told me Sperti Ointment was discontinued and the formula was not sold to another company.

On the positive side, I do know that new technology has discovered infrared products that help burns, and I can attest to the alternative from personal experience.
M. Ann Ballman Lynch, DAAP '72
Marathon, Fla.

My laboratory has been studying the active ingredients of Sperti's medicine for the past 10 years. The original formulation of Sperti's burn medicine is no longer available. The closest one can get to the Sperti Ointment is the European formulation of Preparation H containing the active ingredient "LYCD" [live yeast cell derivative].
Stephen Keller
Associate Professor Biology

On a personal note, Dr. Sperti raised my father and inspired him to attend UC to become a doctor. My grandparents were Italian immigrants who didn't speak a word of English. When my grandfather fell ill, Dr. Sperti took pity on my father.

We spent every weekend at "Uncle George's" farm in Burlington, Ky. On the long driveway leading to the farm house was a fascinating little house that we called the "mouse house," because it was full of experimental mice and rabbits.

I remember that Uncle George made his own pasta and dried it on pool cues. He also made the best salt water taffy in the world, turning it into a big family project.

Besides the ointment, he also invented the formula that became a well-known powdered meat tenderizer. In his later years, he began selling off his patents and the institute, piece by piece. Uncle George died in April 1991, at age 91.
Todd Cassini, CCM '88
Bearcat mascot for four years
Cincinnati

Editor's note: Mildred Marshall Bork, N&H '55, MSN '71, called to share a few childhood memories of "Cousin George," including how she and other family members taste-tested various forms of preserved orange juice with which he was experimenting. Powdered orange juice was not a favorite.

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