Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-02-13

tlceHcS.
Mr. speaker.-This system OF patenting medicines i.
matter in which feel some interest," and it is beeom
ing subject oil magnitude TO our citizens, both IN pc
euniary point OF view and regards their health.
The annual sales Of patent medicines, in State il
indeed enormous, probably equal to, exceeding
our State revenue and this immense is diree
drain upon the pockets of citizens enrich the al
ready well filled Golfers of eastern sharper. Al
the expenses incurred in the preparation and eompoun
ding of these nosrums go the laborer while
money ten yea twenty times the original 81 the
article, is drained from the pockets of the western
sumer Did we receive value for even a moiety of the
money expended, the would be somewhat better
than is bat when cosider that paying this
large amount for compounds the most of which per-
fecily worthless and have other effect than that Of
adding the long list of maladies under which poor
humanity already suffering the matter becomes i'm.
portant enough to demand strctest investigation
When we look the list of the Of those who
are engaged in preparing and selling these patent med
cInes surprised to the vast fortunes which
many Of them have accumulated.
Townsend of Sarsaparilla noteriey sold out his es
Enlistment last winter and retired fortune of
eral hundred thousand dollars all of which he made
in the short space of five years He sold the good will
of the establishment alone, for hundred thousand
dollars, this fact will show to any gentleman
the immense profits of the business.
Then we have DIR. Jayne of Philadelphia who has
lately finished erecting of the largest and most
y buildings built by private enterprise in the Uni
ted States, and whose private fortune is mmense all
accumulated by his enormous profits on his various pat
tent nostrums
But why need particularize; the number of those
who rolling in wealth thus obtained is indeed great.
In addition to Townsend and Jayne, we have Mofiat,
Brandreth Rogers Wistar and host of Others After
surveying the short list here given you will have
doubt conclude with me- that patentng medicines is
indeed one OF the most ingenious devices yet nven
ted by which the few NAV enrich themselves at the
pense OF many and may well excaim that the time
has indeed arrived,
"when inventive paid at public cost
To plan new modes of sin"
Mankind enarmored of mystery, and delight in the
wonderful and extravagant. When therefore man
comes forward with high sounding pretensions as
CARDS the power of a certain remedy cure disease he
ever tnds ready acceptance the part Of the public
to credit his declarations; and hopeful Welding his
asseveratons OF the curative powers OF his
trum.
There is a mistaken view among the people in regard
to the action Of medicines upon the human system. The
old homely which says "That what is one mans meat
IS another's poison" well expresses it, Medicine is but
relative agent and acts according TO the state of the
system.
1t is universally admitted by all well educated
practitioners that there is such thing direct spe-
cife in the Of disease. That is-there reme-
dy which will act benefcally in all stages OF disease.
and in all states Of the system modified mans crcum-
stances are by climate, food temperament, age, and
sex.
Take for example the Of patient affected with
cough. Now this cough may arise from several very
different conditions Of the system In the case it
may be caused by cold in another, by indiges-
ton in another, may depend cardiac affection while
IN iourt1, 1t may be caused by asthmatc affection.
NOW The intelligent observer can see at that each
of these would require treatment very different
from the treatment proper for the other But SAYS
the nostrum monger, my remedy Is good IN dis
ease, and in every stage Of the disease. Take but
bottle of Rogers Liverwort and Tar Javnes Expeeto-
rant, Wistars Basam of Wild Cherry and the dis
case will vanish, and death himself las is plainly
represented in their handbs) will be compelled stay
his DART and away subdued and vanouished by the
N naVa fail Qallf AMI OF NJ
Speaker is the composition of these heaven derived
dies which thus snatch the victims from the very Jaws
OF the monster deahl Well SIR in case it is nothing
less than pint bottle filled with mixture composed of
syrups of brown sugar, enough of bad to keep it
from sourlng CreasOte enough 10 give the flavor of
tar and Opium enough ul in a slight degree for the
time being the sufferers pain to lead him purchase
more.
And these are the kind of fabricated drugs which
gentlemen seem to have great fear of driving of
our State II we should by our law say them, pay
school fund this small sum for your licence
can assure the gentleman they need have fears but
that II they should raise the tax twice thrice the
amount contemplated in this blu We will still have
enough and to spare of the accused compounds The
patent medicine sharpers are, common phrase,
SHINING our czens too deeply to let 90 their hold
easily; and although many already we'll gorged,
still new and more hungry swarms are daily coming
FORTH and as of their fraudulent compounds
is exposed, they bring forward two more if possible
more worthless.
H.would De well Tor the members 10 enquire what
class OF men palm these nostrums upon the public Is
the celebrated for research and high scientific
tanments; he who has obtained his knowledge by pa
tient investigation of the human frame; and by assidu
Gus cultivation of the science of medicine? Do find
the names of Rush, Physc, Goldman, Chapman, Eberle
Warren, Mott, Dudley, Mussey, Drake and host of
others whom American physicians proud to
their brightest ornaments attached to these
proPretors, or TO the list Of re(erencesl Far from it,
such embued with much of the genuine prin
ciples of humanity and benevoence, TO stoop such
contemplate swndling, to suffer degrading stig
to be attached to their professional characters On
the contrary we find those engaged in this nearous bus
mess characterized by ignorance and presumption and
stimulated only by avarice.
If this then be the true state Of the case think we
may well cast around us for remedy check or
control this growing evil. This bill to will
have that effect Ipassed in its present FORM inter-
feres with the privileges Of no one except the original
vender OF the medicines; and they receive immense
profits is it unjust, that should demand from them
for our common schools small share of these profts
The gentleman from Jefferson (bfr. Waltz SAYS that
it is better not to legisate this subect that phys
clans do not want any protection other than their own
qualifications; to the latter proposition cheerully
cede but to the first proposition take issue with the
gentleman hold that il our duty as the representa-
ves Of the people of Indiana speak out on this SUBJ
ec to them of the perncous effects arising from
the unlimited of these fraudulent compounds and
do something to check their immense influx into our
State.
Any law which will restrain the sale Of their patent
medicines will prove benefit not however to the ply
scan bnt to the people themselves. 1t is not the ply
stefan who suffers from the swallowing of these base
mixtures, bat the suffering falls upon the who has
never had the benefit Of medical education, and who
depends for the restoration of his health upo inert
compound because living certificate tells him it will
nfallably him.
IL is asserted that physicians wish this bill TO pass
their own pecunary advantage. Such is not the fact
assert it boldly truth that the fees Of the physician
arr aepd han n,n ehad hv
enormous consumption of patent medicines and this
cannot be successfully contradcted