New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-25
SWEEPING FRAUD ORDERS
u. O. TO ATTACK CURE-4LLS
Crusade against Medical Humbugs
Begun at Washington.
[FRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU J

tFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington, May pa vigorous crusade OF
almost gigantic proportions and calculated to
eliminate from among American advertised in
dustries one of the most extensive frauds ever
practised has been undertaken by the Postoffice
Department. With the assistance of govern
ment scientists. the department seeks to bar
from the OF the mails the host OF patent med
icine concerns and exploiters of proprietary med
icines and nostrums which chemical analyses
show incapable of performing the wonderful
cures claimed for them. On the list prepara-
tions which purport to dpsomania, yet con-
tain large percentages of alcohol. some of which
are vended harmless, but are found TO be
deeterious: others which are advertised con
sumption cures" but contain no recognized rem
edy for tuberculosis. and still others which
sold as restoratives Of vitality, but which
tirely incapable OF accomplishing any such
suit
Although this work IS still in the initiatory
stage, sufficient evidence has already been dis
covered warrant the conclusion that many of
the widely advertised patent remedies "favorite
prescriptions" vegetable compounds. kidney
cures stomach bitters. etc. are rank frauds.
which cannot be OF any benefit whatever. too
often relying alcohol to produce temporary
exhilaration and likely to lead eventually TO
chronic alcoholism.
Governmental control of the mails makes the
Postofice Department absolute master of the
situation, with power to exclude from the
Of the postal service every letter addressed 10
and every circular sent out by concern which.
in the opinion OF the Postmaster General. is
conducting a fraudulent business. and to go
even further and exclude from passage through
the mails every newspaper or other publication
which, once a fraud order mas been issued. per-
sists I'm carrying the advertisement of the con-
Germ so excluded. No legal proceedings nee
essary TO accomplish these ends, and the
tire burden of proof rests on the proprietor Of
the patent medicine the concern to which
the use of the public mails was forbidden. For
that reason. it is believed, it will not prove diff
cult to drive out Of business the individuals and
institutions which seek to delude and defraud
the public. while the department. after careful
investigation OF the subject. is convinced that
the patent medicine fake" is greater humbug
than any of the get rich quick" concerns which
have thus far been excluded from the of the
mails
CURES" THAT DO NOT CURE.
The depth of deceit practised by proprietors
of alleged patent medicines and nostrums. ana
the character of the diseases which they pretend
to cure especially that class which yields the
greatest profit are such as TO preclude descrip-
ton In the public prints, and must be left for
discussion in scientific publications. but it may
be said that they are appalling ana unless
substantiated by indubitable evidence. would
be beyond credence.
But it is not to any class of nostrums that
the department has directed it's attention in
which it mas found fraud to exist. out OF the
first sixteen different remedies analyzed by the
Department of Agriculture, at the request OF the
Postoffice Department, only one was found to
possess any merit whatever in such cases as 1t
was advertised to cure, and the one which pos
sessed merit only what practising physl-
clan would have prescribed under known condi-
tions although the physician would douotiess
first have taken pains to ascertain II the remedy
was required.
Among the remedies which have been ana
lived by the Bureau Of Chemistry OF the De-
partment of Agriculture the following are note
worthy: Mormon Bishop pills were louHu 10
contain red pepper, starch ana Dltter prlh-
ciple 'Tuberculozyne." two preparations was
found TO consist of water, alcohol SODIUM phos-
phate tartaric acid and glycerine; also water
alcohol conner exide and glycerine. The chem
,sts cay, of them. Not one Of the ingredients, or
a combination of the same, contained in the TWO
packages examined is Of any recognized service
in the cure of tuberculosis
sir John Hampton's Vital Restorative" con-
sisted of pills composed one of saw palmetto
and licorice. the other or methylene' whlch la'-
ter nroduces an effect calculated to frighten the
natient Tissue Food" consisted of an emul-
sion favored with lavender. The department
eoys NJ IL. There is no such virtue in this ar
ticle as claimed for it in the advertisement"
DIR. Ferris's Medicine" and -Four Special Pre-
scriptions" also from DR.. Ferris. contained
chiefly starch. The department says OF them:
"It is perfectly evident that starch paste is OF
little value as medicine. These products are of
no service for the purpose advertised" IA
NOUS" remedy advertised most extensively to
cure catarrh I'm all it's forms, accompanied by
numerous illustrated testimonials. was found TO
contain alcohol, 27.3 per cent. and cubeb and
caramel 81 per cent
EXPLANATION OF SOME TESTIMONIALS"
An explanation of the numerous tesurnoplais
which are published proving the eiteacy OF
the various remedies is believed to be afforded
by special analyses conducted solely to ascer-
tain the per cent of alcohol The administration
Conffuued ON aecQnd pa&e,