“Derangements of the stomach and liver.” “Affections of the kidneys.” “Bilious attacks.” “‘Summer complaints,’ colic and alcoholic excesses.” “Headache, dizziness, heartburn and seasickness.” “Acute indigestion.” “Gastric, hepatic and renal disorders.” “Especially beneficial in rheumatism and gout.” From these quotations it is evident that Sal Hepatica is in conflict with: _Rule 1_, in that its composition is not disclosed, although statements are made which are likely to give a false impression as to what it is; _Rule 4_, in that the statements on the label and in the circular around the bottle advertise it to the public and thus make the physician who recommends it an advance agent for the nostrum; _Rule 6_, in that exaggerated and unwarranted claims are made for its therapeutic qualities, and, _Rule 8_, in that its name fails to indicate its chief constituents, but does suggest its use in liver disorders. The absurd claims made for this preparation are such as to put it in the “patent medicine” class. Even the most credulous members of the medical profession certainly can take no stock in the claim that a preparation can be an “eliminant” of uric acid, a hepatic stimulant, a remedy for gout, rheumatism, liver disease, indigestion, etc. Why then should such a preparation be tolerated? In its conflict with Rule 4 Sal Hepatica belongs to that class of nostrums which have been so successfully exploited by manufacturers through the unwitting efforts of thoughtless and careless physicians. The Bristol-Myers Company has been most liberal in distributing free samples, evidently with the assurance that physicians would do the rest. Thus, at the present time, the profession is being supplied with a package containing one regular 25-cent bottle and five single-dose vials bearing the name Sal Hepatica. If only a small percentage of the physicians who receive these samples distribute them, the increase in Sal Hepatica consumers may be imagined. How successful this scheme of the Bristol-Myers Company has been is only too evident. Sal Hepatica is one of the best-selling laxatives in department stores and drug stores to-day. While the evils of indiscriminate purgation are now generally recognized, the referee wishes to quote and to indorse the pertinent comments on this subject by The Journal:[79] [79] The Journal A. M. A., March 26, 1910, p. 1071.