The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-26
ADULTERANTS
 IN MEDICINE
IMPORTANT ADDRESS BY JOHN A.
 PATTEN.
Defends Remedies Against Crusade fl Speech Before Pharmacists at Ron Aqua-He Makes Strong
 Pofuta.

The Chattanooga Times publishes the following copy of an address de- livered at Bon Aqua Springs which mas an interest for tine general public: Before the twentieth annual conven-
 tion of the Tennessee State Pharma- ceutical Association here, J. A. Patten, of the Chattanooga Medicine Company, spoke as fraternal representative from the Proprietary Association of Amer li ica and gave attention to the recent attacks upon the proprietary medicine business. MT. Patten's position, as one of the leading business men of the State, gave emphasis to his remarks. which had careful attention and were received by the druggists with much favor. -." After extending fraternal greetings and referring to the relations of the manufacturers and the retailers and several timely trade topics. MT. Patten said that he felt inclined to speak a few words about the so-called patent medicine curse," inasmuch as we have recently had unusually severe and per sistent attacks upon the manufacturers of proprietary medicines from influen- tml publications and prominent med ical organizations He said one widely circulated paper had gone so far as to state that these manufacturers and
  conspiracy" to defraud and poison the public. to which conspiracy cir there is one) each retailer is of course. a
 party.
 We first observe that it is not from the public, the great mass of people who use medicines, that these criti- cisms arise Note the source from which they come, and the self-appoint- ed guardians appear for competent
 people who have not asked for such prot ection.
 It must also be admitted by fair minded people that every self-interest of the manufacturer prompts him to put out a remedy which Is not only meritorious, but safe. However un- scrupulous he may be at heart, com mon sense teaches him that only as he produces an articles that will repeat which will meet the needs of the people who buy it-can he reacn suc- cess. ..-s First Adulteration in Medicine. Admitting that there are fakes in medicine as in every other line of trade. Is 1t not true that the leading proprietary medicines that have stood the test of time are of known thera- peutic value? Are they not prepared in laboratories of the highest grade, under the care of skilled pharmacists. and made from approved formulas. which in many instances have been the especial pride and specific of some sue cessful physician or chemist? Have they not been tried in the crucible of public opinion and been found satis- factory by the people? For otherwise would not the people discontinue us- ing them? Are they not generally ob- tained at a mere fraction of the cost
 nIa of VI hD n obtained through a physician's advice and prescription? And are not the mill lions of people who use them satis- fed?
 But 1t has been said that 1t Is adver- Using and not merit of product which sells our goods and that only by the strongest kind of advertising the pro- prietary medicine man force the people to use his goods. Is not this also an overstatement? The most that adver- tising can do Is to make people try 1t. Nobody but an imbecile would continue to take a medicine If 1t failed to benefit him.
 Merit in Medicine.
 AS sample proof that 1t is not the adyertising alone that sells medicines, need only to remind you of the fact that proprietors of a meritorious med icine are willing to pay good deal more than the price ol one pachdSe of their medicine for each inquiry or first sale which they get through ad- vertising. Manufacturers pay for in- ouiries regarding their medicine, sell ing at S1, as high as $2 to $5 each. They know that a fair trial of a good remedy will show beneficial results, and that customer once made in this way will probably use the medicine continually until satisfactory or per manent results are obtained. Also that a pleased customer will induce others to buy.
 But we hear much about the bane-
 ,uI effects of the use of these medi- cines. Are not many people killed every year by using proprietary medi- cInes? On the contrary. with a small Army of enemies constantly on the