Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-09-24
Federal Government Wins
Many Legal Battles Waged
Against Nations Medical QuackS

lASoAAA0S ANOSOA
Washington. D. c., Sept. 22.-More
than half a hundred legal actions have
been terminated successfully under
the Sherley Amendment to the Food
and Drugs Act, which prohibits false
and fraudulent claims as to the cura-
tive or therapeutic effects Of drugs or
medicines. Criminal prosecutions
against the manufacturers were
brought in 25 cases, but in 81 in
stances the falsely and fraudulently1-
labeled medicines were seized While
in interstate commerce. Claims made
by the manufacturers for the curative
powers of these preparations ranged
from tuberculosis, smallpox and diph-
iberia to coughs, colds and scalp d.
seases A number of other criminal
prosecutions and seizures T pending
in various federal courts throughout
the United States because of alleged
violations of the Sherfey Amendment
similar to those which nave already
been tried. The officials charged with
the enforcement Of the food and drugs
c are of the opinion that the evils
of the patent medicine business can
be stopped only by the most drastic
action.
1t is pointed cut that rraflc in medi-
cines for which false and f%raddulen:
claims are made is not only an econ
omic fraud of the worst kind, in that
a worthless preparation that costs
but a few cents is frequently sold for
a dollar or more a bottle, but that
health, and ven life, is endangered by
failure to secure the service OF a ply
sician in such serious diseases as tu-
berculosis, diphtheria, pneumonia an:
scarlet fever, until too late, because
reliance may have been placed in the
curative powers o; some worthless
preparation which is claimed to be
a ne~ver-failing remedy. The deluded
victim may not realize his Ganger un>
til the disease has reached a stage.
too far advanced for even the able:i
to cope with it. Effective
treatment depends in most cases on
applying it during the early stages OF,
the disease.
Suggestive Name.
The HOuchens Medicine Company
Of Baltimore, Md, pleaded guilty TO
the charge that a preparation called
Family Physician" and shipped by
them into interstate commerce was
and fraudulently labeled.
the many diseases for which
this medicine was recommended by
the manufacturers in statements ap-
on the labels and accompany
ing circulars were diphtheria, scarlet
fever, typhoid fever, smallpox, bron-
neuralgia, Group and all d.
seases Of the throat anu lungs. The
following quotations from the label,
or circular are interesting:
THE Public is hereby assured that
this is the Genuine and Original
Physician.
For fever you need not give any
thing else but this Medicine; it Will
keep the rash out itself. For cases
Of Smallpox take plenty ana often
Use Freely. Give no hot teas, just
give the medicine and what pimp.es
are under the skin will come out; the
rest win be carried off by the medi-
cine. Also a. wonderful and positive
remedy fer dyspepsia, keeps measles
out nicely, regulates the bowels with.
nut trouble, and, by purifying the
ease" j.
Analysis of the product, which was
claimed by the manufacturer to be
effective in the treatment of so many
and contagious diseases, as
we'll as a variety of minor ills, show
ed that it was a sirup containing 1872
per cent n%on!volatile matter, $50 per
cent alcohol, anise, and a vegetable
cathartic drug. The government,
therefore, charged that medicine did
not contain ingredients or medicinal
agents effective for the relief and cure
TO cure. Tie court imposed a fine of
SIS.
Remarkable Claims.
A plea Of guilty was entered by H.
1ngham and Co., Of Vergennes, VT,
to the charge that statements and
claims as to curative powers of a
called "Dr. H. A. Ingham's
Expectorant Nervine Pain
were false and fraudulent.
An analysis of a sample of the product
by the Bureau OF Chemistry showed
the same. to contain alcohol, Sc per
cent; opium alkaloids, camphor, cap
and vegetable extractive mat
Ter. The government, therefore, al
eyed that the medicine did not con-
Jain ingredients or medicinal agents
effective, as the labels or circulars
asserts, to subdue raging fever, or to
cure typhoid fever, lung fever, scar
ct fever, rheumatic fever, cholera,
lysentery, sunstroke. d%iphtheria,
bleeding at the lungs, nervous ex.
lausion or piles, or to prevent Ats Of
lpoplexy and epilepsy when coming
IN, or burns, or to break up a felon,
,r to cure congestion o. tho lungs,
fits Of %apoplexy, chronic
paralyzed limbs, and
'roup.
1t was also alleged by the govern.
nent that the statements For teeth.