Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-11-06
FAKES AND QUAkERY
IN PATENT MEDICINES


Fraud .-the Patent Medicine Hum
bug-the aspec of this ."benevo-
lent" business seems to have chang
ed. Whether the crusade accom-
plishled any real and lasting good
can hardly be judged, it seems that
it has merely forced the Medicine
Humbug into other channels or 9TH
er ways to dalude an unsuspecting
public.
For, umately the great majority of
the American Press now refuse to
give space to such fragrant hum
bug as the "Cure Free" and allied
advertisements but some of Them
Still crop out here and there. These
ads look harmless on th,e surface,
they generally breathe an air OF
truth and an unsefish desire on
the part of the advertiser to help
suffering mankind. AS rule lit is
given forth how the grateful -adver-
tiser found relitf for this or that
ailment after suffering untold ag-
onies, by "a simple remedy and that
for the relief OF his fellow-sufferers
he will gladly send the 'Prescrip
ton" to anyone who will ask for it.,
stamps enclosed for the return. 1t
is, of course, set forth that any rs-
liable druggist can fill the formula
but on investigation it is always
found that, although dit contains a
certain number of purely harmless
and common drugs, it has .sjok-
er" in the SHAPES of some unheard
of remedy.
After a fruitlsss search among the
druggists Of his community and
perhaps neighboring towns the pa
tient writes to his "unselfish ben
efactor" and is Informed that as
it appears that the druggists of
that particular section of the world
are not reliabla or up to date lie
had better send the valuable pre-
scription" to a ce.E;an PLACES whele
it will be filled correctly. ,Tnin.
the BREEDING. proce 50 begins. Per
haps the patient finds temporarily
relief thru his imagination, perhaps
the dope" is getting affords a
slight stimulus, but he must saton
have the prescription liagfialed. He
will go along for mo- It. S, always a,e.
ing assured that IF he will onls
follow the instructions faithfully
and try one mcra treatment he
will be on the i cad to recovery a ID
his case will ultimately be curgd.
Such .stuff, us of course the. raw,
est kind of faikery and humbug but
it is really astonishing to see how.
many poor people fall for it. AS
long as the patient Isl willing to
she'll out he is led on unit j lie
finally despa.rs and loses all faiths
The witrer has S zen pc ple pay ou,.
as high as fifty oSsi&ty dollars for
few ounces Of such a conmoa
thing as POtas sium Er mix e, nice v
done up in individual powders or
doses. The whole thing coul,a Ii VIC
? been bougt at the local drus sto e
for less than "a dollar.
The loss of The money is not tie
worst Failure of this FERROUS N,
bug, the greatest havoc is wrought.
when a perhaps comparatively mild
case of some common e'lment Is
aggravated and prolonged finally de
veloping into some real serious di-
seases which the local physician Is
then called upon to cure.
Had the patient DIN th.,, first PLACE
sought competent medical aid J. he
would probably have been spaced a
lot ofAunneressary pam to s. y no h
:, ing ot the monetary loss The b 6
danger lies in the unfortunate ha-
bit of self-me!ication.
! Another and mo e -ommon swim.
die is the i Prominent; Phsician s
Prescription : s''7' = Y.
How often: do, we not see in TIE
papers an, innocent loaking. little ar
ficae telling about how this or. that
PROMINENT Physician" thru years
!, OF res arch finally developed ar
absolutely 'su e cure = for this or
that .ailment. Fer the .anefit Of
suffering Z mankind tLia eminent
physician sacrifices Z: his ddscoY-
cry and the Famous 'pres:ript on =
is there given. It is noteworthy that
in all cases 1t is very simple, buy
from your druggist so much Of
this and so much of that and mix
it at home mad you wisl have an