PREVENTION OF QVACKERY

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12592, 7 September 1906, Page 8

PREVENTION OF QVACKERY

A DRAffTIO MEASURE.

(•rxcLu, to " the nutsi.") . WELLINGTON, September o.

Mr J. T. M. Horneby'* Quackery and Other Frauds Prevention 9&U-to prevent the *ale of quaok nostrums and to suppress other fraudulent practice*-— which passed it* second reading in tihe House to-day i* a drastic measure. It make* it unlawful for person to sell any medioament other than those presttribexl'and supplied by * duly Qualified iwgistered medical practitioner or registered chemist with* out fink obtaining the consent andoerti-. float*/of the .Chief Health Officer.

Any bottle or package containing •such medicament mutt bear t&e certificate of the Chief Health Officer on it whenaold. Provision, it made for chemists who deaire to apply for the authorisation of any medicament, and it is further provided that any unregistered ptmotitioner within the colony may make application to the healta offioer for the right to adrertke anj medicament or treatment for any dSaeeaee, or complaint, and the Chief Health Officer may, if reasonably a»ti*fied of the efficacy of such treatment or medicament and the bona fide* of such unregistered practitioner, issue to any euoh peroon • oertifioate authoricing such treatment or use of the medicamente. In oaaea where the autboriaa* tion'ie refined Bpplioanta are entitled to be heard by the Supreme Court. The provision* of the Bifl relating to the publication of advertieements of quack nostrums are particularly drastic. Clause 7 »etc out that any person who publishes any advertisement or, other notification relating to any quack noetrum, and any unregistered practitioner who publishes any advertisement or notification offering advice to sufferers or patient*, or to cure dieeaee or complaint* either with or without fee, and the publishers and proprietors ot the publication in which the advertisement or notification appeared, shall be guilty of an offence under the Act. Similarly proprietors or publisher* of newspaper*, books, magacines, etc., whether within or without the colony, are prohibited from publishing advertisements relating to alleged free packet* of jewellery or other like •'gifts," in return for "scented packets, medical remedies, or unauthorised medicaments." For a first breach of the provisions of the Act a fine of not exceeding £5 may be imposed. For the second offence one month's imprisonment may be inflicted, and for any subsequent offence not less than cix nor more than twelve months.