New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11
DON'T DOSE YOURSELF.
YOU MAY GET HABITS" AND OTHER
UNPLEASANT THINGS IF YOU DO.

DANGEROUS CoAL-TAR PRODUCTS WHICH ARE
NOW PoPULAR-pRuGGIsrs WHO DIsRE-
GARD THE LAW AS TO PoIsoNs-
CIGARETTES AND PAT
ENr MEDICINES
A famous physician was once stopped on the
street by II friend who complained to him about
feeling ill., and with long face and fearful eyes gave
the details of his ailment When he had described
every symptom h asked:
well. doctor what would you do in my pace.
Il would consult physician" was the reply.
People who have noticed the reckless and indis-
criminate use OF drugs and medicines by persons
who know absolutely nothing as to tier nature
and effect on the system think that 1t wouid DC
well IL every patient could receive such Wholesome
advice. But the average sufferer who goes to a
physician only a last resort and who conhdes
his ills and aches to his neighbor. is not so fortu-
nate II he is of those who know-or
think they know-just what drug should be taken
under certain circumstances. the chances are tnal
he will take what his neighbor recommends be-
cause John felt just last spring, and 1t helped
him all right" because "our baby was taken
just that way the year moved to town. and one
bottle cured him.
The consequence H. that quack medicines are in
demand, and many premature deaths are the con-
sequence. The barkeeper profits by the stupidity of
the believers in the "evey- man. his-own doctor"
theory, and headache remedies and eye-openers are
essential to his business gin and sugar
u don't feel very well this morning" man will
say to a barkoepcr whom he knows to be an is
norant, low-bred man. and whose judgment on al
most any subject would he found better than on
there peutics general medicine. But still he
supplements his complaint with: Haven't you
something that will fix me out?' or Cant you
give me braccrP' and the hlrkeeper proceeds to
mix drink for his patient, which may contain
any kind OF drug drops for all the drinker may
know. Whatever the barkeeper-doctor may give
him as base, there is always enough whiskey or
gin brandy in the mixture 10 hide or disguise
the taste, and the man who didn't feel very we'll"
II he should by the aid Of nature conquer his slight
Illness. will be apt to attribute his cure to Toms
cocktail" and he will recommend 1t as Just the
thing" The credulity of such people and the pref
crence for medicine with stick in it, has made
the barroom competitor of no mean proportions
to the legitimate practitioner. Bitters OF all kinds,
soothing salts and often mixtures containing
opium kept In stock for people who belong TO
the broken-up nervous class. while various kinds
Of "hot drops cordals and alcoholic mixtures are
ready for persons who have stomach troubles.
There barkeepors who command extra pay be-
cause they krow how to concoct certain alleged
remedies for which there frequent calls at first
class bars.
SOME POPULAR DRUGS.
But the drugs which are dispensed in barrooms
in the shape OF palatable drinks are Few ana
harmless in comparison with the nostrims when
are sold by druggists to people who are entirely
ignorant of the properties or the effects of what
they buy and take "rhe coal-tar products invent
ed or discovered by German chemists within the
last ten twelve years, said physician in speak
ing Of the matter "oecn 70 be the most popular.
Among them are acetanilid pheDacetine, anti
kamna antifebrifuge and antipyrin. Some Of
these give almost instant relief from all sorts OF
acho and 10
hear people say when they know that an ache or
pain Is giving "A friend uneasiness: why don't you
send for some phenacetne or antipyrin: IL Is the
best thing IN the world To take. The person gives
| the aovlce in good faith not knowing that some of
these remedies. II taken by people who have heart
trouble or who otherwise not strong, will have
a most injurious effect They do not know that dis
torted vision may result and that besides having
| n decided hypnotic effect of these remedies
have been known TO produce vertigo and other dis
orders The sufferer goes to the nearest drug store
and asks for "a dose of phenacetine. takes it, Is
| possibly relieved and becomes ut once an advocate
of IN, remedy 1t will probably be taken by the
average person more often than is necessary. the
doses will have 10 he increased in size. and sooner
or later bad effects must result. The headache
cure habit is not confined to men and women; 1t
embraces children. and any physician Will tell you
that he knows OF cases where mothers nave dosed
their children with coal-tar remedies rather than
family circle and lecture the parents who
| MAY with the health of their children, but we have
a RICH, to call druggists 10 account for assisting
IN the work. Without the cooperation or the drug
pist tie abuse of drugs would be impossible, but
csrit. the efforts Of the medical societies and not
withdrawing the prohbltve legislation on the SUBJ
iect druggists continue 10 supply people with
noisonous mixtures without receiving authority to
do so I'm the form of a physicians prescription
This does rot apply TO the headache remedies, hut
only TO draughts balms salves and lotions for every
III that flesh Is heir TO. The physician knows the
weakness of his patients. and ne knows also the
Shortcomings of the druggist and for these reasons
the words no repetition are written on many
nroscrntons This is done to guard against fond
mother giving Tom what was intended for Dick
or Harry and to make 1t Impossible TO procure a
drug when the physician thinks that there is no
further need for It, This method has become so
well established that the letters N t.. are UNDER
stood by all prescription Pharmacists
THE MORPHINE HABIT.
From all that can he learned Oh the subject. the
greatest harm has been done by the sale of NOR
milne by druggists, and the growth CT the morphine
habit is charged TO the recklessness OF those VINO
have it for sale.
"Aforphine Is prescribed every day" said ply
sicicn Of large practice. land often the patient
oujres liking for the morphine effect which, In
stead of trying to conquer, he cutivates until the
drug has conquered him. III ne mas sense enough
left when that stage has been reached he will
blame his druggist. who did not refuse to repeat
the morphine prescription the first time II was
asked for Many drug stores have their morphine
customers, who are known by every one connected
with the concern from the proprietor to the errand
hoy. They come at first in IA hestating way and
hand the box which contained the pills or powders
which were prescribed by the physician to the pre-
scription clerk and ask to have the prescription
repeated. The intervals between repettons grow
shorter az the doses become larger. and in short
time the form of having the prescription repeated
f. dropped and the clerk knows when his