Antikamnia, a proprietary preparation which was advertised for years
under the claim that it was a definite synthetic compound, in spite of
the fact that every one who knew anything about organic chemistry knew
better, has at last been publicly unmasked as a mixture of acetanilide,
caffeine and sodium bicarbonate; and in refuge from the necessity of
declaring the amount of acetanilide upon the label, the firm which makes
it has changed the formula so as to substitute phenacetine for
acetanilide, and yet the same unwarranted and extravagant claims are
made for the preparation that were made before, with no notice to the
medical profession that a radical change has been made in its
composition, and entirely ignoring the stultification of the former
claims as a definite uniform chemical compound.
Other instances might be cited, but enough has been said, I think, to
show you that the effect of the law is being felt by those who have made
themselves amenable to it.
One important feature must be remembered. It is this: On every package
of foodstuff or drug put up under the new law, the words “Guaranteed
under the U. S. Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906, Serial No. ——”
appears. This is being used in such a way as to make it appear that the
Government in some unknown way stands sponsor for the quality of the
substance, when in truth it is but a compliance with that part of the
Act, Sec. 9, which says:—
“No dealer shall be prosecuted under the provisions of this act when he
can establish a guarantee signed by the wholesaler, jobber,
manufacturer, or other party residing in the United States, from whom he
purchases such article, to the effect that the same is not adulterated
or misbranded within the meaning of this act designating it.”
Thus it will be seen that the guaranty means nothing more than the word
of the manufacturer that he will be responsible in case of prosecution,
and I fear that not a few of the guarantees at present published are
given without due regard to facts, in the hope that the Department of
Agriculture, with the tremendous task confronting it of putting the
rules and regulations into practice, may be a long while reaching some
of these articles.
Meanwhile many persons will be deluded into purchasing such articles in
the belief that the phrase referred to is evidence that the Government
is responsible for the claims made, when in point of fact nothing of the
kind is meant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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