PATENT MEDICINES.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1904, Page 2

PATENT MEDICINES.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — I notice "Sub Umbra Defloresco" has returned to the charge with a long letter, which appears to be on the prin-i j ciple of "No case, abuse tho other side?'J He stated definitely in his first letter' that toost reputable manufacturers do set out their formula on the label, and h^ gave three names in support of this con 7 tention. I showed him to be absolutely wrong in every case, and though he now equivocates, he cannot deny that I am right. As regards the amount spent in the col-, ony, if he will take the trouble to go into the matter ho will probably find^ £40,000 a low estimate of the total expenses of patent medicine propi'ietors. Newspaper advertising alone will account for upwards of £25,000, Customs duties about £7000, and printing, posting, travellers, offices., cost of manufacture, income tax, and general charges will go far to make up the balance. As to payment to outsiders, he might as well try to stop the importation of tea on the ground that tho cost of same goes outside the colony. In reference to my friend's curiosity as to my name and occupation,' I am pleased to inform him that, though not a patent medicine compounder, I do happen, as he suspects, to have some special knowledge of the business, and I freely accept his statement that he practically knows nothing about it. I had inferred that already. I do not propose to discuss the matter further. — I am, etc., A USER OF PATENT MEDICINES. Wellington, 25th November, 1904.