The Washington herald., 1910-08-12

"I. is one Of the penalties We have 10
pay TO get any legislation"
This was the way Health Officer Wood
ward summed up the failure Of the law to
prohibit the sale OF medicines for in
fants containing as much dope as the
patent medicines that are dangerous even
to adults.
DR.. woodward placed himself on record
as opposed to soothing sirups, or baby
killers" At the same time he deplored
the lack Of prohibitory laws. and said
the one way 10 force such poisons OFF the
market is to arouse public sentiment
against them.
Il hope The Washington Herald viii
keep ii up" he said. 1T Is refreshing to
see a newspaper take up a fight that is
50 essential to bring about reform-and
| II will be a reform that doctors have
sought FOR years"
woodward Quotes Law.
DR.. Woodward looked up the law that
regulates the sale Of drugs in the Dis
/ trict. and found that unless It is proven
that the medicines contained more than
the stipulated amount Of morphine. CO.
caine. or opium preparations. there Is no
way TO bring about prosecutions.
do you know that some OF the stand
ard brands OF soothing and teething
slrups contain one-third Of a grain OF
morphine?" he was asked.
Il have no doubt they do" said the
health officer.
The law demands that any druggist
n selling a preparation containing more
than one-fourth OF a grain Of morphine
shall be subject TO prosecution and a
heavy fine. The regulation Of this traffic
comes under the jurisdiction OF the police
department, and Pharmacy Inspector
Sanders IS responsible.
DR.. Woodward denied that an investi-
CATION had been ordered. and said posi-
lively at the same time that II Inspector
Sanders will undertake one the depart
ment OF health viii cooperate with him
vigorously.
As the matter now stands. II Is up to
the police department. DR.. Kebler OF
the Bureau o. Chemistry. has paved the
way, Or. Woodward has come out In
favor Of an inquiry. and the public is de-
letters TO The Washington Herald, in
dorsing its stand.
Believe Sirups Harmless.
"Only the ignorant will give soothing
sirup 10 a child" said Health Officer
Woodward. But at the same time there
are many mothers under the impression
that such preparations are harmless.
farrrt.,
lava concession necessary to get legis-
lation at al is responsible for that-and
mothers think they will not h1rt the
babies.
Never in all my experience have
known a physician TO prescribe soothing
sirup. If manufacturers were only forced
70 put a skull and cross-bones on bottles
even the most careless would understand
that the preparation contained poison
and is therefore dangerous, even t0
adults, let alone babies.
when drugs or patent medicines con
tanning even a minimum amount OF CO.
caine OF morphine are given to children
the effects are undoubtedly injurious. Tn,
law should prohibit the traffic in soothing
sirups altogether. or at least should re
quire that such medicines contain a skull
and cross-bones on their label"
sale Is on Decrease.
Dr. Woodward said he believed the sal
of baby killers" is decreasing. but h,
admitted every drug store still does
big business in them. nevertheless.
Health Officer Woodward was not quit
: ready to lay the present epidemic of IN
rantile paralysis at the doors Of tn
stun that patent medicine men reap
golden harvest from at the expense o
! the babies; but he said they weaken tn
S little constitutions and make an epidemi
. more dangerous in consequence.
, He praised DR.. Kebler highly for hi
E exposure of the killers" and said tha
: ultimately they will not be allowed on tn
! market
This is what DR.. Marshall L. Price. sec
= retary Of the State board of health o
Maryland. has TO say about "bab
D killers:
4 Children may become addicted to tn
use of morphine very easily. They kno7
e that soothing sirups ease their pain, and
e Of course. demand it, Mothers will al
Z low themselves to believe that the US
! of this stuff is harmless, when, on tn
e contrary. 1t is the worst thing they couI
Z do for their children. There is no la,
5 in Maryland preventing the sale Of thes
8 things as long as labels plainly stat
! the ingredients. I truly believe tina
! parents are unwise in giving their chi
D dren such drugs, which should only b
1T.