The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2 — John Shaqi
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
A requirement similar to that of Rule 5 is contained in the Federal
Food and Drugs Act and so no objection has been made to this rule which
requires a truthful statement of the origin and source of articles. An
illustration for the need of the rule was furnished by the one time
popular “Vin Mariani”[11] which, though very French in its makeup,
was found to be largely of the “made in the United States” variety of
tipple.
[11] Vin Mariani: Official Report of Council on Pharmacy and
Chemistry--With Comments, J. A. M. A. =47=:1751 (Nov. 24) 1906.
The issuance of a patent for a medicinal product does not prove that
such a product presents a discovery or that its owner is entitled to
a temporary monopoly, yet it is only fair to physicians and to other
manufacturers that notice of such patent claims be given. Hence, the
Council publishes in New and Nonofficial Remedies the information
bearing on this point.
_Lay Advertising._--Rules 3 and 4 provide against the recognition of
articles that are advertised to the public directly or indirectly,
exempting from this requirement preparations which the Council believes
are safe to be so advertised.
It has been held with some justice that certain shotgun proprietaries
are purchased by the public with as much circumspection as they are
ordered by those physicians who are addicted to the prescribing of
them; but even the exploiters of these mixtures have not denied that
the use of medicines by the public on its own initiative is surrounded
with many objections. Hence the practice of self medication should not
be encouraged by prescribing or using those preparations advertised for
public use.
The only objection to the rule has come from a firm which markets a
brand of liquid petrolatum, the Standard Oil Company of Indiana. The
Council has considered the question of exempting simple laxatives from
the restrictions of Rules 3 and 4 as it has exempted antiseptics and
nonmedicinal foods. The conclusion was, however, that the excessive
use of a simple laxative like a liquid petrolatum, when prompted by
newspaper exploitation, is likely to be detrimental to health by
overuse as well as by misuse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account