The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-05
PATENT MEDICINE LAWS.
Rigid HeStrietIo--~ Governing Drug
EiSts' Preparations in Austria

EiSts' Preparations in Austria
The State Department has received
from Carl Bailey Hurst the United
States Consul General at Vienna. Aus
tria. the following special report on the
subject Of patent medicines in Austria;
In consequence Of many enquiries ad-
dressed TO this consulate general in the
matter of the Government regulations ~
Austria regarding the importation and
sale OF patented medicinal and chemical
preparations. I would report that the sale
Of arcana.' or secret remedies. has al
ways been strictly forbidden i'm this mon
archy. Trade in such medicines and ad-
refreshments OF the same are under strict
surveillance OF the law Further. those
medicinal preparations Of which the pre-
scrIptions are not open To inspection by
physicians. or in the prescriptions OF
which the substance OF the medicinal IN
gradients cannot DE definitely recogniz-
ed as - kind and quantity. may not be-
kept for sale in apothecaries- Only those
manufactures may be considered as
pharmaceutical speciaIties that contain
drugs acknowledged 20 be medicinal rem
edies. as. for instance. balsam copabia,
oleum sautaH, and the Ike. or. pharma-
ceutical preparations, as eNtractum fihcis
maris, extractum cubebae. and the like,
OF simple mixtures of the same in new
and more practical form OF application.
OF more pleasing 10 the sight. smell, and
? taste. such as CapCulae gelatinae medlca-
tae. sapOnes medicati, etc.
In the case Of all not oficiual pharma-
/ ceuticaI preparations and specialties for
( sale IN apotkecaries. the authentic pre-
scriptious. carefully listed-native and
foreign separated-must be kept on hand.
ready for instant inspection upon request
OF the authorities Further. copies Of the
! labels. directions for use, vigneJtes, ad-
vertisemeuts. or publications Of any kind
/ in reference TO the same. tending TO push
| their sale must be kept on file The au-
thorities have the right to stop the sale
I of all pharmaceutical preparations not IN
] conformity with the above regulations
Every new medicinal preparation in
} tended for use by the public must be re-
! ported 20 the authorities. and its sale may
/ not be begun until said authorities have
( found no reason 10 prohibit the same
( Prescriptions Of foreign medicines must
/ be accompanied by precise directions for
their preparation from TIE foreign manu-
/ facturer and be provided with his sigma
Z ture and business stamp.
Private persons desiring % import pat
( ent medicines must apply for permission
/ TO the authorities, but small Quantities,
carried by travellers for their own use, are
/ admitted without question. and. If the az
ticIe be duty free without payment Of a
/ customs tax.
There are certain limits placed on the
I importation by druggists Of patented
medicinal prepaTat lions, in reference prin-
/ cipaIIy, 70 secret speciaIties and nostrums.
J Altogether excluded are cosmetics that
/ b. their labels. wrappers. and advertise
ments are affirmed 10 be eficaciOus in the
I removal Of personal bIemishes-impure
/ skin. freckles. liver spots. and badness
and are. therefore. qualified as remedies.
| The regulations in Austria in regard 20
| the advertisement Of patent medicines are
/ likewise strict. All laudatory notices in
I local publications OF cores ana remedies
| coming from abroad constitute a trans
! gressiOn Of the trade laws and under
| certain circumstance. foundation for
complaint Of unlicensed medical practice
/ As. however, the importation Of foreign
/ medicines is permitted TO druggists. a
| suitable announcement Of the same in the
! papers cannot be forbidden 81 done in ac-
| cordauCe with existing laws all the more
! as the advertising druggists are response
| bic for any Illegal action The recOmrlen-
/ dalton Of any special remedy for general
| uSe-henCe irrational application Of the
! same for various dlSeaSeS-CauIot be
! sanctioned. as in such cases the remedy
1 Is falsely invested with the efficacy OF an
| arCanum- But 20 the straightforward an
/ uOUuCement OF any admissible medicinal
I preparation. with merton merely Of its
4 sudorific- and the hke-nl objection. can
J De made