PATENT MEDICINES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13762, 26 September 1908, Page 5

PATENT MEDICINES.

A NOVEL FIELD FOR $T^TE i ENTERPRISE.

'tFrom Onr Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 2&\ t- The State nowadays is called upon to perform many functions. 1$ becomes the fo&ierf parent <# tße ngpected infant, grades, butter and cheese; take's fire risks and life insurance risks, puts the poor man on land, regulates industry — in fact does nearly, everything but regulate the climate. But there, is perhaps one thine it has not contemplated- . ■so far, and the" idea was seriously put forward in the Legislative Council to-; night; that is, setting up in business as the manufacturer of simple 4 remedies l for the annihilation of common maladies: When the Quackery" Prevention i Bill was under discussion the Hon. W. W. McCardie said that the craze for proprietary medicines «nd noxious nos- ; trum* would be killed if the Chief -Health Officer drew up a few prescriptions for use in $h& case of, common ailments and circulated them throughout the , This, Be urged,, would be a boon to ,»the backblocks where proprietary medicines were largely used. i The suggestion was received with good , natured scorn by the Hon. Dr. Collins, judging by his laughter, but ; the Hon. J. Anstey and Hon., GeorgeN Jones openly expressed their approval. '•Why," said Mr Jones, "the State 'I supplies doctors, nurses and other things, and why not medicine?" , In the days to come one may be able to purchase "State Painkiller" or "State Liver Pills'^- - and . a hundred, other remedies. Even the bald man may see a gleam oi* hope in the future.