"Vitamin M"

[Jonathan Lighter]

Am surprised to find nearly 1,000 raw Googlits for "Vitamin M" as a mostly military term for Motrin, which is now ostensibly handed out as a remedy for all human ailments and illnesses.  The earliest, on Usenet, is from 1999.

  In the Vietnam era and earlier, the corresponding cure was APC's (containing aspirin, phenacitin, and caffeine).

  Am not sure about WWII, but in the 1917-18 installment, the practical equivalent was "C.C. pills" (i.e., "compound cathartic"). Hence the jingle,

  "The Medical Corps they held the line,
  With C.C. pills and iodine.
  Hinky dinky parley-voo."

  Aspirin was available by that time but may have been too pricey and newfangled for officialdom.

  JL




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