The Monticellonian., 1903-02-26

take from the people, in effect, the privilege and the right of buying a great many remedies that they constantly use; 1t is furthermore unfair because 1t would allow statute to be us- ed bv certain interests, such as doctors, to club other interests, such as stores that sell these medicines. If this bill became a law the manufacturers of scores of harmless medicines would be forced to quit selling their goods in Arkansas. They would not put a misleading and terrifying label on the bottles containing their remedies. Rather than do so they would keep out of the state. Thousands of persons would be frightened out of buy medicines If q great "Poison' la elstared them in the face when, as a matter of fact, the medicine might be harmless. Many ton ics that are used with great ben eft by people contain strychnine but who ever died of Strychnine poisoning caused by taking a tonic?
 If the makers and sellers of the wellknown remedies are to be compelled to put terrifying la bel upon each bottle, why not compel the druggists, every time they fill a doctors prescription thateontains any poison, to put on the bottle the words, This l package Contains Poison?" It may be answered that doctors will be careful not to prescribe too much poison. But, let us ask, how many people in Arkan- sas or anywhere else were ever killed by being poisoned with a "patent" medicine? If a deadly compound were being sold as a i family remedy, how long could it last if t killed people?
 This measure should be entit- led, "An act to deprive the peo- pie of Arkansas of the right to buy remedies without first pay ing a doctor for the privilege. " Because many of the medicine manufacturers would not try to sell their wares in Arkansas ii compelled to put a misleading and unjust label on them, 1t Is easy to see who would benefit by the passage of a law that would practically, in thousands of cas- es, make persons go to a doctor before they took a dose of medi- cine Especially would this be a hardship on poorer people and those living outside of town. No doubt there are some worthless patent" medicines, but there are also some worthless doctors. Poisons are constantly used by physiciansin in prescriptions Why, then, shouldn't poisons be used by the physicians or chemists who compound proprietary rem edies? Asa matter of fact, many patent medicines are phvsi- clans prescriptions. Having proved themselves useful in cer- tain diseases, the physician him. self, or druggist or some other man, puts the prescription on the market and advertmes 1t. If the physician was not required to label his remedy "Poison" when 1t was used under a pre- scription, why should he or any other nan be compelled to mark it Poison when sold as pat ent' medicine?
 The legislature should allow the people of Arkansas to con- tinue using the remedies they have been using in some cases for fifty years or more, and not deprive them of this privilege to the profit of persons who would make more money if patent" medicines were not sold"
 The above from the Arkansas Gazette, of the 21st inst. Is op- perfume and sensible. Will the representatives of the people never learn that the people are generally able to take care of