PATENT MEDICINES.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1904, Page 6

PATENT MEDICINES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir — In your issue of 24th instant, "Sub Umbra Defloieaco" again states that Fellows's Syrup carries the formula. This statemeut is quite contrary to fact. Fellows's Syiup proprietors in a circular say that it contains iron, manganese, potash, lime, phosphorus, strychnine, etc., but give no quantities ; that is, they give a portion of the ingredients, and do not in any way compiy with the proposed regulations. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co. give the ingredients and quantities on most of their tabloids, Unit they put up other goods on which they place no formula. Their goods do not in many instances comply with the regulations. It has been whispered that certain lines are to be removed lrom the "Gazetted "black list." Say that Fellows's Syrup is one of these, and the reason of "Sub Umbra's" letter is clear. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co.'s preparations, H'ellows's Syrup, and a number of other proprietary lines aie not advertised to the public, and their sale has been entirely made by the doctors acting as "drummers" for these firms. Of course, "Dr. Sub Umbra," — or should I say the Health Department? — will have to exempt all the patents patronised by the doctors and "Wack list" those patronised by the public The second portion of "Sub Umbra's" letter, dealing with the advertising quacks, is just bunkum, as he must, know perfectly well that these people will not be touched by the regulations even if they are enforced. The "Electric Belt" and "Medicine and Advice One Pound" man will just go on the same as ever. The palpable intention of the regulation is to fill the pockets of the doctors by' depriving the public of their present means of purchasing simple remedies for their ailments (and I have yet to learn that Beecham's or Holloway's pills have done any harm). The actual effect of the regulations will be that every chemist will have to keep a consulting room and prescribe for the public; and what a harvest he will have once the stores are stopped from selling medicine! I can quite understand the chemist who puts up no proprietary medicines, or who cannot s>ell those that he does put up, favouring the regulations, as he well knows that the public Mill simply crowd into his shop for cheap medicine and free ■ advice. — 1., am, etc. , PILL SELLER. Wellington, 30th November. TO THE EDITOR. Sir — In the issue for 19th November, 1887, of the Chemist and Druggist (the most influential chemists' journal in England), the editor, in commenting on a law case, writes: — "We take this opportunity of reminding Judges, journalists, and others whom it may concern, that to the patent medicine advertisements of the past half-century they and all England owe, in a very large degree, and more probably than to any other influence, the wonderful development of the cheapness and consequent power of the press, which is one of the great features of the Victorian era." Evidently the patent medicine trade has something to answer for. — I am, etc., R. M. GATENBY. 30th November.