Quacks, false remedies and the public health / [David Walsh].

  • Walsh, David
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Quacks, false remedies and the public health / [David Walsh]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    various existing laws to suppress the evil of quackery lies in the want of a zealous prosecuting authority and of a means of defraying the cost of prosecution. Were the legislature bent on suppressing quacks, as they suppress or punish burglars, they would find plenty of ways and means in the law as it stands. For instance, by paying the costs of proceedings under the Apothecaries Act, it is possible that the State might practically put an end to irregular medical prac- tice. At the same time, their hands might be greatly strengthened by certain legal and administrative re- forms, which suggestions will be dealt with in our next and concluding section. HOW TO DEAL WITH QUACKS AND SECRET REMEDIES. RECOMMENDATIONS. PUBLICATION OF FORMULA. The stronghold of the secret medicine vendor is secrecy, and anything that does away with that con- dition will deal him a death blow. The publication of the formula of the contents of every secret remedy, its attachment to every package or bottle, and its appearance in every advertisement, is an obvious step on the part of any legislature desirous of checking the evil. Publication is the rule in Germany and _ other countries, and has been found to work well enough. It would not damage the respectable proprietary manu- facturer, who already in many cases publishes the full formula of his preparation. He is content to copy- tight his title and to look for his reward in the sale of a good article with the approval of the medical profession. ABOLITION OF THE PATENT MEDICINE TAX. The patent medicine stamp should be abolished. In the eyes of ignorant persons it undoubtedly suggests a guarantee from the Government as to the good qualities of the article to which it is attached. By accepting a money payment the Government are to a great extent hampered in prosecution when fraud is revealed. Nay, it is a fact that the Government stamp is still fixed upon articles that have been publicly pro- claimed to be fraudulent by His Majesty’s Judges in open Court. The Australian Report has exposed a mass of fraud, chicanery, damage to the public health, and criminal practices in connection with patent medi- cines. Yet the British Government are being paid for