New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-15
HITS PATENT MEDICINES.
Those Containing Alcohol CIassed
1cith Whiskey By Dir. Terkes.
From The Tribune Rursau.1

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Sept. 13-John w Yerkes. the
Commissioner Of Internal Revenue rendered a
decision to-day which will strike terror 10 the
hearts OF druggists and patent medicine manu-
facturers and bring grief TO the thirsty residents
of prohibition States. Hereafter the harmless"
liquor remedy. the "unfailing' catarrh cure and
the pure vegetable" reinvigorator. which con-
sist of alcohol or distilled spirits must be
handled as liquor: the manufacturer must pay
the tax required OF manufacturers of spirits. ana
the druggist who sells these goods must take out
a retail liquor dealers license
Commissioner YerSess decision reverses ruI-
ing Of the same office made four years ago. It
is well known that many of the so-called patent
medicines now the market are composed
chiefly of cheap whiskey or alcohol in some form
favored with some not unpalatable drug. and,
their effect being the same as that of whskey,
1t is never difficult to procure the most extrav-
agant testimonials as to the efficacy Of these
remedies So general has become the con-
sumption Of these medicines in certain sections.
especially where straight liquor is difficult OBJ
tain. that cases OF intoxication resulting from
their use known by the name Of the med
icine' causing it.
There is also an immense sale of this class OF
drugs to Indians on reservations. where the pro-
hibition OF the sale of liquor is enforced and
the noble red man observed to be acting
peculiarly and walking with manifest indie
termination TO which side Of the trail to
follow is Immediately suspected of having in
dulged to excess in some sure cure for lame
backs, or of having taken an overdose Of DE-.
Quacks celebrated kidney cure" Presumably.
II the manufacturers and druggists are COM
PEELED TO treat these fake remedies as whiskey,
the Indian Commissioner must do the same. and
then one of the greatest sources of revenue to
the producers OF blends of cheap whskey and
favoring extracts will be destroyed.
But it is in the prohibition districts that the
thirsty white man in destined to suffer most No
longer will he be able to wear the white ribbon
of total abstinence while he gravely informs his
druggist that he is suffering from that tired
feeling" only TO be refreshed by the administra-
ton OF several of the hundred doses which can
be bought for dollar and quarter Incl
dentally. the express companies may find their
receipts enhanced through the increased trans
portation Of original packages OF goods, but the
profits of the local druggist will fall Off and the
inprovdent consumer who wants his tipple
promptly and without waiting a week for it 10
come by express Will be heard bewailing the
day when Commissioner Yerkes reversed the
patent medicine ruling.
The Commissioner in letter of instruction
to collectors Of internal revenue says that there
are number Of compounds on the market 60
ing under the names of medicines that are
composed chiefly OF distilled spirits, without
the addition OF drugs medicines IN sufficient
quantities 10 change the character Of the wills
key materially. He authorizes collectors 10 i'm
pose the special tax on manufacturers of every
compound composed OF distilled spirits, even
though drugs are declared TO have been added
thereto, when their presence is not discover
able by chemical analysis it is found that
the quantity Of drugs in the preparation is so
small 70 have no appreciable effect upon the
liquor. The same ruling declares the Com
missioner, applies to every alcoholic compound
labelled as a remedy for diseases and contain
ing. in addition 10 distilled spirits, only sub
stances or ingredients which. however large
their quantity are not Of a character to impart
any medicinal quality to the compound"
To prevent injustice being done. the ruling
will not be put into effect until December l.
1893, but collectors are instructed send out
notices at once TO all druggists and merchants
them that after December they will be re-
quired 70 pay the specia! tax as liquor dealers
for selling compounds coming within the rule
While no statement is made by the Commits
sioner as TO the medicines that will be affected
it is believed that the decision reaches several
largely advertised preparations In some in
stances these medicines have been found TO
contain high - per cent of alcohol. and
there are many the market. it is said that
contain - per cent Of alcohol These medi- !
cines said 10 have immense sales in pTOhi- /
bitiOn communities. figures collected in Massa- [
chusetts recently showing, II is declared, that /
one such advertised compound with q high per /
centage Of Whiskey had been bought TO the ex- /
year in prohibition communities of one New /!
England state.