PATENT MEDICINES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10667, 11 June 1902, Page 2

PATENT MEDICINES.

In a paper read not long ago before the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Dr Albert Robin, bacteriologist and pathologist to the Delaware Board of Health, delivered a strong indictment against what he termed "the patent medicine habit." Patent medicine*, he said, demoralise the people by engendering constant dread of disease, a condition' whioh might be called pathophobia. He stated that a vaunted remedy sold at ft dollar a. box tss composed of granulated sugar ; that certain opium "cures" contain -morphine, and that tonics, especially recommended for inebriates, are largely made up of alcohol. Other patent medicines contain cocaine and other narcotic substances as their active ingredients. There can be no doubt that the habit of self-physicking, often with, powerful drugs, is on the increase. The evil has reached such a height in America that the insurance offices are beginning to take cognisance of its existence. Already one company requires that the medical examiner shall ask the applicant: "What patent medicines have you used in, the last fire years?" This action is indicated by - plain- common sense. A man who doctors himself may truly be said Ito have a fool'for a phyaician; .even/if his nostrums do him no harm, they are likely to engender in him an, unwarranted confidence in their protective or curative power. If, on the other hand, he habitually indulges in strong drugs; he is certain to dam-age-his constitution; p and is -likely at anytime to commit . <n|oluitary sui--cide v In either case JieJ* not • desirable candidate for -life'- assurance. If all assurance offices were to follow the example qf the 'American: 'company mentioned- above, the "patent medicine habit" Tnignt be in some degree abated. Legislation making it compulsory for the manufacturers of patent' medicines to publish" the formula of their preparations' on the bottles^would do more. But the most effectual remedy. would be 'the removal from the eye of the ignorant public of the continual incitements to buy patent medicines afforded by the lying advertisements which even respectable newspapers -kre not ashamed to' publish. , '■ ••