The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-06-22

Continued from First Page)
me in calling the matter to the atten-
ton of the congress.
Fraudulent MISREPRESENTATION of
the curative value of nostrums not only
operate to delude purchasers but are a
distinct menace to the public health.
There are none so credulous as suf-
ferers from disease. The need is urgent
for legislation which will prevent the
raising of false hopes - speedy cures
Of serious ailments by misstatements
Of fact as to worthless mixtures on
which the sick will rely while their dis
eases progress unchecked.
AT the time the food and drugs act
was passed there were current in COM
merce literally thousands of dangerous
frauds labeled as cures for every case
Of epilepsy, sure cures for consumption
and all lung disease, cures for all kid
ney, liver and malarial troubles. cures
for diabetes, cures for tumor and can
Ger, cures for all forms of heart dis
ease; In fact, cures for all the ills
known at the present day.
THE labels of many Of these So
called cures indicated their use for dis
eases Of children. They were not only
utterly useless in the treatment of the
disease but in many cases were posi-
tiVly injurious. If any of these state
iAACAAlo AcO ONCll II uS IlO one WITH dC-
cess to the remedies which. bore them
need not have died from any cause
other than accident or old age.
Unfortunately the statements were
not true. The shameful fact Is that
those who deal in such preparations
know they are deceiving credulous and
ignorant unfortunates who suffer from
some of the gravest ills to which the
flesh Of this day Is subject No physi-
n e. f1r to- hi
matter to what school Of medicine he
may belong. entertains the slightest
idea that any Of these preparations will
work the wonders promised on the
labels.
Prior to the recent decision of the
supreme court the officers charged with
the enforcement Of the law regarded
raise and misleading statements con
corning the curative value of nostrums
as misbranding and there was a gen
eral acquiescence in this view by the
proprietors of the nostrums. Many pre-
tended cures in consequence were
withdrawn from the market and the
proprietors Of many other alleged cures
eliminated false and extravaganza
claims from their labels, either volun-
tarily or under the compulsion of Grim
tnal prosecution
Nearly 100 criminal prosecutions or
this charge were concluded in the fed
eral courts by pleas of guilty and the
imposition of fines. More than 15(
cases of the same nature involvins
some of the rankest frauds by which
the American people were ever de.
ceived are pending now and must b.
dismissed.
I fear, If no remedial legislation b.
granted at this session, that the gooC
which has already been accomplished
in regard to these nostrums will b,
undone and the people Of the countr!
will be deprived of a powerful safe
guard against dangerous frauds. o
course, as pointed out by the suprem,
court, any attempt to legislate agains
mere expressions OF opinions would b.
abortive nevertheless, If knowingl,
| misstatements of facts as to the natur
Of the preparations be provided against
the greater part of the evil will b
subject to control.
THE statute can be easily amended
to include the evil I have described.
recommend that this be none at one
as a matter of emergency.
WILLIAM H. TAFT"