The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
Science
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2
Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry (American Medical Association)
Patent medicines
In addition to the plain technical conflicts with the Council’s rules
there is a feature of the case which has not hitherto been raised
and which should be fully considered: It may be remarked that the
advertisements contain no therapeutic recommendation, and do not, on
their face, urge the public to employ aspirin but apparently merely
tell the public how it may protect itself against sophistication.
In substance, they say: “If you are a user of aspirin, this is how
you may obtain the genuine.” It might be said that this is not an
attempt to increase the use or sale of aspirin--the ordinary object of
advertising--but that the means of protection against adulteration is
a “subject on which the public should be instructed.” The principle
of such exceptions is stated in the comments to Rule 3 (New and
Nonofficial Remedies, 1916, p. 15); and although the present case does
not come under the exceptions specified under these comments, it may be
urged that the exceptions need to be increased as occasion arises. The
notorious adulteration of aspirin may well be urged as establishing a
need for a similar exception in its use.
The general principle of protecting the public against fraud,
adulteration and substitution is directly in line with the objects of
the Council, and deserves commendation and support. It is obvious,
however, that the means adopted for this end must be efficient,
that they must not open the door to other, perhaps greater evils
and that they must be used in good faith. The policy of advertising
“Aspirin-Bayer” must be examined in these respects.
In the first place, the acceptance of a product by the Council implies
an agreement by the manufacturers or agents that they will adhere
strictly to the Council’s rules and will not depart from the letter or
spirit of these rules without notice to the Council. This principle has
been grossly infringed in the present case. There can be no doubt that
the agents were aware that their advertisements conflicted, at least
with the letter of Rule 3. Nevertheless, they did not, in any way,
inform the Council of the change in policy. In this respect, at least,
they have not acted in good faith.
Secondly, the wording of the advertisement implies that only the
tablets stamped with “The Bayer Cross” are genuine. This is misleading,
since every druggist has the right to make unstamped tablets of
aspirin, fully as genuine as those stamped with the cross.
Thirdly, the cross itself cannot be considered an efficient protection;
for people who imitate aspirin will not hesitate to imitate the
stamp. The remedy, in either case, and as with any other drug, is the
examination of trade samples, and the vigorous prosecution of those
guilty of violating the law.
Fourthly, the permanent affixing of the name “Aspirin” to the
vest-pocket boxes is also inefficient as a protection, and serves
mainly as an advertisement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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