Patent alias quack medicines / by the editor of Hygiene.

  • Abbots, William, 1831-
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Patent alias quack medicines / by the editor of Hygiene. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    8/166
    In Italy the following regulations as to proprietary medicines came into force on January ist, 1891:—The composition, as to the quality and quantity of the active substances contained, must be printed on the labels and advertisements; no special curative virtue shall be attributed to them either on the labels or in the adver- tisements ; they shall be sold only by chemists under the surveillance of the sanitary authorities, and with medical prescriptions. In far-off Japan a public laboratory has been established for the analysis of chemicals and patent medicines. The proprietors are bound to supply a sample of each, with the names and proportions of the ingredients, directions for its use, and an explanation of its alleged efficacy. In the following pages we have endeavoured to show things in their true light. We have often had occasion to speak in plain language, and to call a spade by its proper name ; but, as Shakespeare says in King-Henry VI., “we’ll maintain our words,” if need arises. We have extenuated nothing, nor have we set down aught in malice. We have had in view only the public good, and, judging by the many favourable Press notices, and the still more numerous letters which have reached us from subscribers and other correspondents living in every civilised country of the world, we believe that our efforts have been both appreciated and productive of benefit. The kind encouragement which we have received will stimulate us to fresh attacks upon the hydra-headed monster. Quackery, in future numbers of our periodical; wherein will appear a second series, including numerous new analyses and reports, commencing in the January 6th issue, being No. i of the Eighth Volume of Hygiene. The Editor. Hygiene Office : Savoy House, 115, Strand, London. January ist, 1894.