A QUACK MEDICINE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13697, 29 May 1915, Page 3

A QUACK MEDICINE.

INTERESTING LAWSUIT IN ' ' ■/ SYDiNEY, '

(Preps Asbh -r-By Telegraph— Copy rl.ni.i

(Received May 29, _i.20 a.m.l . SYDNEY, May ' 29. The Crown Prosecutor, raider the Pure Focfd'.Act, proceededagainst Elliott Brothers'! .The ground alleged was misdescription of. a patent medicine known as Vitadatio. The Crown Prosecutor relied on m a- printed pamphet sold, with the medicine, stating that it "would cure Bright's disease, hydatids, .strictures," cancer, c6n_umptfon,a_iq_^gW6rhi. Amongst the expert evidence- of analysis; Dr Gooksey showed that Vitadatio contained 2.5 per centum of proof spirit, alsa salicylic acid, tannin, gentian, 'sarsparilla, and senna or rhubarb. Dr Palmer the principal Government medical officer, declared that according to this analysis Vitadatio could not {sure Bright's disease, hydatids, cancer, or consumption. - He made a statement explaining, that, 'quinine, mercury/a nd no drug ever cured anybody. Other doctors supported Dr Palmer regarding the diseases , mentioned. For 'the- defence evidence was given, m support of cures. Sydney Arthur Palmer, prdprietor of Vitadatio^ ; gave evidence that he was ill for fourteen ' years m New Zealand and was treated for dyspepsia, liver, Bright's disease, and pleurisy, and subsequently underwont an operation at invercargill which showed' he was full of hydatid tumors. A doctor, .told him that the only medicines which would cm* would also kill him. He tried' Vitadatio and was cured!. He dehieathat Vitadatio contained tannin, rhubarb, senna, sarsparilla or gentian. A bottle Coß t n j m one 'shilling, whereof the.bottle itself cost twopence* tha material threepence • and "labor severlpenoe. He declined to give the names of certain herbs which he saidi cost him £2Q,QQQ to get fiom Welber, the original proprietor. 'At the> Magistrate's l'equest he wrote them down. The Magistrate found s^inst - defendants, who were merely whr|l esa ] c buyers of Vitadatio, and ordereJf them to pay a fine of £10 and costs.