The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-16
ABOUT PERUNA.
The Medicine Can Not Be Used as a
Beverage.

The manufacturers of s'Peruna," the
well known medicine. have taken steps
preventing its use as a beverage and
have secured a ruling from the inter
nal revenue department to the effect
that Peruna can be sold without a IL
cense everywhere since the internal
revenue department has decided that it
deserves consideration as a medicine,
containing drugs in sufficient quantities
to prohibit its use as a beverage.
Here is the letter on the subject
from Commissioner Yerkes:
INTERNAL REVENUE.
ct. D. $3.50
Synopsis of ruling as to Peruna and
amendation thereof
Treasury Department, Office of Com
missioner of Internal Revenue, Wash
ingtOn, d. c., March 26, 19O6-The
appended ruling relative to the prepa-
ration known as ''Peruna1 is published
for the information of all persons in
terested.
JOHN W. YERKES. Commissioner.
Treasury Department, once of Com
missioner of Internal Revenue. Wash
ington. D c., March II. 19O6.-Sir:
on September / 2, 1905. a circular was
issued by this office, addressed to col
lectors of internal revenue, with re-
gard to alcoholic compounds advertised
and sold as medicine, composed of dis
titled spirits or mixtures thereof with
ingredients, in sufficient quantity to
change materially the character of the
alcoholic liquor. The ruling had espe-
ciaI reference to compounds, or pro-
prietary medicines, where the quantity
Of drugs in the preparation was so
small as to have no appreciate effect
on the alcoholic liquor of which the
compound was mainly composed, and
where compounds were of character
where the ingredients or substances
added not 2 Phar1 QfPr fn frY7na IF
medicinal quality. In that ruling the
following language was used
But where substances undoubtedly
medicinal in their character are COM
bined with whisky or other alcoholic
liquor and are used in sufficient guam
tity to give medicinal quality to the
liquor other than that which it may
inherently possess, such compound is,
Of course. not to be included in this
On November "a, 1905. another
ruling was issued by this bureau in
Guiding the compounds. or prepara-
made here showed that they came
within the language of the circular Of
September u, 1905. above referred to-
Peruna was named as one of the prepa-
rations. Following that decision, there
was correspondence between you and
this Office relative to the matter. and in
letter of date December 80, 1905, writ
ten by you to the Commissioners of in
IGTnal revenue YOU use TINS 1dn2udke-
During the last few years since our
preparation has had such large sale it
has come to my knowledge that in some
instances its use has been perverted.
This has been q matter of much dis
pleasure to me and has done incalcula-
bic damage to the real purpose of my
medicine as a household remedy. It,
however, must be said to the credit of
Peruna, when its widespread consump-
ton is considered. its misuse has been
of very small percentage
IT am a great believer in law and
temperance, and thoroughly agree with
your esta blished Departmental policy
that proprietary medicines should pos
use by the public for intemperance pur-
poses would practically be nil
Your worthy initiative has fortified
my resolution to put a cessa ton to any
misuse of my medicine, however small.
Il have now added such laxative and
medicinal qualities to Peruna that I am
sure any further misuse of the medi-
cine Is practically impossible. I have
put this preparation on the market. It
can be found in a number Of drug
stores in Washington, the names of
which were furnished you about ten
days ago. This new product has a
special notice upon the wrapper advis-
/ ing Of change IN fOrmulary. It also
bears upon inside label notice of revis-
ion of formulary and label December
1. 1906.
IT also take pleasure in fnclosing to
you the new formulary Of Peruna as 1t
/ is now manufactured by me. Also ana
| lysis of such product made by DR. Vir-
-gil Coblentz, professor Of chemistry in
4 the College Of Pharmacy. New York
City. I am quite sure this amended
formuIary will meet and remove the
criticism made by your Department or
the former product, and I express the
hope that this new product may. receive
your approval at an early date
Replying to that letter on January 5
1906. I said in part:
You then state that the new prepar