The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-01-04
DEATH DEALING "MEDIcINES"

The Journal 81 the american Medical Association pub.
shed q Chicago ia its issue Of December ?, highly COM
mends The Seattle Star Tor its stand taken against pernaus
patent medicine advertising and quotes The Stars editorial
Of beesmher N which this paper announced that would
bar out ads et all patented remedies" which arc not app
proved and used BY regular practieng physicians
The Journal commenting The Stars editorial says.
This Is certainly clear snd the editor hss taken
firm stand He further says that The Star not claim to
be able TO protect the people against all fake but
he considers his simple duty the stand here out.
lined because the Inc between right wrong appears to
him clearly drawn.
We have before urged that newspapers. as rule
70 the OF selfsacree would out on the Of
right If the facts placed before editors way
show thcm what right Il has been surprising those
who have watched the trend Of affairs the publication
Of Golfers article The Patent Medicine Conspiracy
Against the Freedom of tho Press that the press
committee OF the Proprietary Association has been able
20 control all of the newspapers On the other hand.
large number have boldly and have sided with
The public in this propaganda against frauds in patent med
icinss."
The SIN takes 10 credit 70 itself for having barred oat
fake patent medicine ads Whcu the exposure Of these
fakes rceeuty made BY eminent chemists who under
stood their huaacss and The Star found that carry
ing number ri advertisements Of the fakes decided
without ado that the copy being the editor
from the East unacceptable and they -
medatslg - considerable financial saeri.ce.
The business Tor the purpose Of iucrcas-
INC the Ills 81 humanity BY helping along unprncpled
who oist alleged cuscais upon unsuspecting people l.
tries the OF is ability improve conditions among
anI 20 carry sunshine into human lives.
While The Star deplorcs the fact that many either
daily newspapers knowing the facts about The
vile frauds massuesading under The Of patent me
cincs ssl eounue al and abet the vendors by print
ing their lying advertisements this paper 10 te
present than Keep columns clear Of the de-
ceptsye stuff
Later an Is certain that m aroused public opinion
viii compel al newspapers these advertisements,
which y cling solely ioF the revenue they receive
fhereirom.
It's to be regretted ina, few really good patent med
icines have temporarily suffer IN reputation from the
eontamnang influences Of the great Of bad
bat just almost impossible Tor careful
papers discriminate between them in the printing Of
advertisements.
The safest IN fact the only way for the average
10 do take advice Of regular physician before
using any pateufed medicine The Doctor knows should
know which 81 the patent medicines really meriioous
Perhaps Of five Of these medicines IS good when
prescribed in specific
A. The star has said before Is than foolish.
when one Is H. and health. perhaps life. is menaeed.
to trust the average patent medicine Advertisement and
risk everything By taking unknown mixture Il far bet
ter what medical help get from reputable
doctor. who. despite his shortcomings. certainly should
represent the sum total Of medical knowledge and skill
The United States government is altogether blame
less for having allowed many fake remedies 70 be
paimed off the public in years under the pro-
tecting wing Of the patent oiee Many persons believe
that anything the government patents must somehow have
an intrinsic merit.
Il Is hard TO understand how any government can
eonscicntfoulv patent and thereby restrict the OF
remedy that really good and that should be freely given
70 the world for the of disease stricken humanity
Surely the day not far distant when man who would
hcartessly keep valuable medical discovery under his
exclusive control by Of patent viii be Stunned as
an enemy Of humankind
At present the main effort must first be directed to-
wards branding fakrs who fostng patented nos
trums upon the people.