HEALTH QUACKERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24327, 18 June 1940, Page 9

HEALTH QUACKERY

■ 1 to' the editor Sir,—The plans ito increase our war effort and to stimulate production, the action against subversive elements, the support to the* fighting funds, are all indications that in times like these we are in no temper to stand any nonsense. We chafe over political disunity and over competition between buses and trains or trams, but we regard these as disappearing remnants of a muddle that has to be stopped in time of war. Among the nonsense not to" be tolerated is the misuse of the B stations for dissemination of advice of an extremely doubtful character on health. These stations are under Government control, yet they are doing a disservice in using all modern means of persuading people that they are suffering from a variety of diseases and disorders, that they possess this and that symptom, and that from those symptoms they are capable of diagnosing their own ills. Such an argument is full of fallacies, anf the result is a menace to the health of the community. Further, the whole purpose of these assurances is the promise that this or that remedy will infallibly remove the His in question. Perhaps it . is too much to ask the Government to clean up the festering sore in our midst in the form of health quacks, but at least it is fair to demand that a department of the Government shall not join the rapks of the quacks. There is no evidence that the broadcasting stations possess or seek any knowledge of health matters or of the contents or virtues of the remedies they advertise. It is bad enough for stores to. hand patent medicines over the counter without either the seller or the purchaser knowing anything about’the* Contents or their action or efficacy, but it is infinitely worse to have a State department falling to he same ethical level. It is not true democracy for the State to delude the people, and through promises to effect improvement in health, possibly cause disastrous upsets or delay in obtaining competent health service.

What are the ethical standards of the other Government departments? One cannot imagine shady activities by Marketing or Internal Affairs or Agriculture, and one would naturally expect to find the Department of Health on a sound ethical basis and fully qualified to advise. What Is the attitude of the Department of Health to the B stations’ disease propaganda? Personally, I wish to enlist, but must get toned up before the medical examination. Will either the broadcasting or the health authorities assure me that the pills and tonics vouched for by the radio services will do what they claim in the direction of making me fit for military service? In case they consider that silence is golden (sometimes), possibly the Defence Department has an opinion to express.—l am, etc.. Augean Stables. June 17.