The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-19
TUBERCULOSIS
REMEDIES" THAT
ARE WORTHLESS
No Real Cure Possible From ANY of the
Patent Preparations Investigated
By Government Scientist.

Washington. ID. C., April l9.-Aftel
investigating under the food and drugs
act, large number of preparations ad
vertised as consumption cures, the de-
partment OF agriculture has not been able
10 discover any that can in any sense be
regarded as "cures" for tuberculosis
Some contain drugs that may at times
afford some temporary relief from the
distressing symptoms of the disease, but
that is all. Since the passage Of fed
cral legislation prohibiting the shipment
in interstate commerce OF medicinal prep
arations for which false and fraudulent
claims are made. there has been a marked
tendency to label these preparations
remedies" instead of cures or 'infsl-
/ lible cures as they used to be called.
4 In many cases. however. they cannot
even be- regarded as remedies.
! A cherry balsam," Tor example. for
the cure" of consumption" and "hemor-
rhage of the lungs" which il was repre-
scented would strike at the very root OF
the disease" was found on analysis TO be
nothing but a solution IN water and al
cohol of opium. sugar benzaldehyde, in
organic salts and coloring matter. it
contained no cherry bark extract or bal
sam.
A more elaborate cure" consisted of
five different preparations which the cred
ulous patient was to take separately.
These were first. the medicine proper, the
essential ingredients OF which were found
to be morphine. einnamic acid aud ar
senic-n not very safe mixture to take
habitually: second. tonic which was
supposed to contain iron but did not
third. a cough mixture" made up Of al.
cohol. chloroform and oodeine, which is
derivativc OF opium or morphine; fourth,
q mixture which contained some quinine,
and a solution of water and alcohol: aud
fifth. codeiue tablets. Even the strong
est constitution could hardly stand
prolonged course Of such treatment. 4
In tho marketing Of such preparations 4
ingenuity - frequently
shown. one of tho main objects IL TO
persuade the patient that he Is receiv- 4
ing. AZ comparatively low price, The
Individual attention Of = trained special
1T. For this purpose. SYMPTOM blanks
are employed. These contain a number
II questions about the patients symp-
toms. the number varying from = dozen
or 80 10 a. many ~ ~ or 80. Tie pa
fient ! led 20 believe that the iuiorma-
tom which BE- furnishes in reply to these
quest ions vill bc carefully considered -
fore any mediciue b prescribed for MIN.
though every physician knows that Al
accurate diagnosis cannot possibly h.
made in this WAY. A. waiter ai fact
Some j. attempted and the degrec Of e
rutian which these indit idual repurts
.ereite ran b. measured ~ The fact tl,at !
aces have rume undef the observation
II the drpartment in which mail order .
.orrs.rus DOING business 81 this Kind
ave rersisei ~ many ss 4na0 letters :
lay.
After the patient ias sulsn tied his 3
diagnosis report hs - urged - pur- :
hsse a sunpiy ~ u.edicine. d. DO daesf
=. be i then urged e. purchase Snare. :
10 states that DO has esrerieneed na q
.nnsfriai sfssts hr i told that b. has g
- taken eunagh end this rrntess = J
iriv ~ frntinua urti tho iimifs - his e.
reduiFty hare haer rrseiira d. nm ths q
Z Scr hand. b. defides af fise trriufinz 3
~ a. purchase the u,elieine. d b flte- ,
+ ~ - rHfrrH u k.H at amraesartflv q
suer rries unfI D. is q last in1ursi .
p hr1iess that hs rann0t EHurd - q ]
ore aush hnrrsfn. Thts IS rarfef e. "a
art ~ tafent tilat r -trnatuiHft tiie q