PATENT MEDICINES. STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1904, Page 2

PATENT MEDICINES. STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD.

[by telegraph — owy correspondent.! DUNEDIN, This Day. In view of the agitation taking place for the repeal of the regulations regarding patent medicines, the reply of the Minister of Public Health to a deputation representing the drug trade may be worth quoting fully. Sir Joseph Ward said that he Was only too glad to have heard the representations that had been made from such an important branch of the trade and business represented by the deputation. It was not necessary for him to tell them that the regulations had been put into operation upon the recommendation of the professional advisers in the Health Department. One reason for the regulations, in the first instance, was- on account of tho representations that had been made by the people during the last eighteen months. They had sent samples, and with regard to some of the patent medicines that had been sold, he had credible information showing that in some cases the patent medicines sold contained a considerable portion of poison, without the slightest indication on the labels conveying that intimation to consumers. While on that point he (Sir Joseph) would like to say that in England it was the law that where poison was contained in any article in the shape of patent medicines it must be printed on the outside of the bottle, and the information conveyed to him at different times before the regulations were pub into operation had shown that there was a considerable amount of poison of various forms being circulated throughout the country, and no one knew they were consuming it. He thought that there was a wrong conception in the minds of those making representations to him. Ninetenths_ of what were alleged to be patent medicines, were not patent medicines at all, because there wa3 no patent for them. He felt sure it was far from the desire of any one to compel manufacturers to disclose their secret or business in any way. That was not. the desire of, the regulations, but /at the samo. time they wanted to have some reasonable means of protection for the at large in the consumption , of either medicines or anything elsa,. and thafr-alone was what they were concerned in. He recognised in respect to- the stocks,* for instance, in the country that it would not be a proper thing to cause any loss. He did not want to see anything of the kind happen. Probably if the time were postponed so as to give an opportunity of fuller ennuiry into the whole of these regulations that would to some extent meet some of the objections urged in that dire'etion. The manufacturers of medicines in New Zealand might send the formula to the Minister of Public Health, and examinations could be made by the medical men employed, and. if the public were protected the manufacturers need not give away their formula or the labels. I In the Old Country •it was found that some of the soothing syrups sent out contamed a considerable portion of poison, and some of the best medical men in this aountry had alleged that a great deal 'of < l}arm had been done to children without t vie knowledge of mothers. He thought | there should be an examination of the formula by- some officer of the Public Health Department, instead of having them printed on the labels. The object of the reguhtions was not for the purpose of harassing the' important busi-, ness in which (he deputation were concerned, but what the Government wanted < to do was to try to ensure to purchasers j of patent medicines that they were not taking something tnat'was injurious to them: _0n his return to Wellington he would look into the matter with the officers of the Health Department with a view ot seeing in what direction, while protecting the public, they could assist the manufacturers, so as not to interfere with the legitimate .progress of the business generally.