The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-09-28

sent at the next meeting Of that bod,
a report showing the number Of acci
dental deaths caused by patent medi
cines in the two years ending June 80
1907, as compared with deaths from
other causes.
Almost Immediately after the begin
ming Of the latest crusade against
proprietary medicines this committed
was instructed to collect data. This
work was done through the clipping
bureaus, which furnished accounts OF
all deaths. exclusive Of suicide, due to
the misuse OF medicines. drugs OF
poisons. The result showed that only
three per cent. could be traced di.
rectly TO the products made BY the
members Of the association.
The greatest care is said to have
been exercised in tabulating the fig.
ures received. Whenever the cause
Of death was doubtful. special inves-
tigation was made, no matter where
the case might have occurred. The
work Of asserting and preparing tho
record was done in Chicago. and the
original clippings and correspondence
are In the possession Of Erwin +.
Kemp, 1874 La Sale street, that city,
the associations publicity agent. The
report says, in part:
"A large number OF accidents, re-
sulting fatally or otherwise, were
caused by the carelessness Of persons
who left drugs. medicines OK poisons
within the reach OF children. A large
number, also, were caused by persons
going to medicine cabinets in the dark
and taking down the wrong bottle.
In no case reported was any medicine.
patent or otherwise, held responsible
for injury or death except when left
within the reach of children or taken
or administered in gross overdose"
The committee says that 1t is un-
likely that any cases OF death from
the use OF patent medicine escaped
the newspapers. but that it is prob
able that death from the causes tabu-
lated did occur without receiving pub
licity. Physicians. on course. report
the causes Of death. The committee
says that they would be the last to
suppress the cause II due to the use
Of medicine not regularly prescribed.
A recapitulation Of the committees
andings show 1926 cases Of poisoning
of which 1853 we're fatal. The great
est number Of cases. 1886, with s0s
deaths, is attributed to medicines
other than proprietary remedies.
There are on the list SO cases OF sick
ness and 43 deaths due to patent medi.
cines.
Analysing its statistics, the commit
tee finds 201 cases Of sickness. with
LAP deaths. due to strychnine tablets,
which are among physicians fayorite
remedies and are often left within the
reach Of children.
Under the head OF miscellaneous
are grouped a cases
where the report says, 1t has been i'm
possible after diligent inquiry to as
certain the name or the character OF
The drug or medicine which caused in.
Jury or death. beyond the fact that
The medicine or drug was prescribed
by a physician. OF these cases Is
We're fatal. The committee SAYS:
Under the head or All Patent
Medicines are grouped all those rem.
sdies which are recognized as patent
and which are advertised
direct to the public for internal use.
Competent authorities say that at
least one-half Of the medicines taken
IN the United states are Of the kind
known as patent medicine. and vet
IN two years among S0,O0O000 people
there have been but ninety cases
Iforty-three fatal that have been re-
ported in the newspapers from the
use OF misuse Of these remedies"
Not in a single fully su0stantiated |
case is it ever charged that any pat
snt medicine in recommended doses (
was injurious. In this connection it l
;Lould be understood that in making
ieath certificates and in reporting
cases Of injury to the newspapers /
rom which these cases were secured. /
physician had the final word, and (
IN this connection is there any prob 4
lbility that the doctor will hide his
,wn carelessness or neglect or that OF |
/ fellow practitioner whose support I
he may want at some time. and is
here even a possibility that he might
lide any responsibility that could be
brown at a patent medicine? Ask
these questions Then when
'ou have found the answer. consider
hat during all this most thorough
md careful investigation covering a
,eriod Of two years. In not a single
case was it shown that
,atent medicine in recommended
loses was injurious.
The most remarkable case reported
vas that Of an Italian laborer in New
Fork who suffered from pains in the
hest A physician ordered porous
,laster which the patient ate. with
atal results.