Arizona republican., 1916-02-06

ent medicines, but if they were found in either wholesale or retail drug stocks they would be subject both to federal and to state food and drug laws and to investigation and analysis by state food and drug departments. Masquerad- ing as they do under the disguise of physicians prescriptions they escape the wholesale control of these agencies. 1 and as shown by the exposures in
 Nostrum and Quackery,' have been the frequent instruments of fraud, and the means of disseminating habit forming orugs.''
 The third section deals with the abuse of alcohol in nostrums.
 (3) Alcohol Content-If the prepara- tion contains alcohol it must be suf- ficiertly medicated to prevent it's use as an intoxicating beverage and,' in addi- tion to this requirement. the proportion of alcohol present must not be greater than is properly necessary to hold in solution in permanently active condi- ton the essential constituents of the preparation, and to protect the prep aration against freezing, Fermentation 
 The desirability of this proviso is ob- vious in view of the extent to which the medical "bracers. "bitters' and the like have been used as beverages ill prohibition districts. Under govern mental pressure some years ago Peru ma was forced to alter it's formula by the inclusion of strongly cathartic drugs, so that the requirement of 9
 jag through it's agency would be ac- companied by unpleasant correlated symptoms Along the same line of de fence of the public health, and even more important, is the fourth proViso. (4) Content of Habit Forming Mar cotic Drugs-If the preparation is one which is capable of being used internal ly, whether recommended for internal use or not. it must not contain cocaine,
 nor shall it contain opium or any of it's
 alkalods or their derivatives. in great
 CT proportions than those specified in
 Section Six of the Federal laws com monly known as the Harrison Act and it shall also contain other active drugs in such proportion that the use of the preparation will not be likely to create a drug habit. an dsatisfy such a habit, when previously existing.
 Hitherto cough medicines, catarrh cures diarrhoea mixtures, consump tion nostrums, nerve sedatives and var
 ioUs other patent medicines have been simply cloaks for the dissemination of opium, morphine, heroin, codeine and the like Under this provision accom- panying physiological effects of the products would be so discomforting as to discourage their use as dope" (5) Remedies for Ctildren's Use-If intended for administration to infants or children, the preparation must not contain cocaine. or opium or it's aka loids. or their derivatives in any pro- portion whatever.
 A most valuable proviso. Besides the 6eaths caused by soothing syrups, teething mixtures and similar concoc- ticns containing opiates, there is reason to suspect that the seed of drug habit in later life is implanted by the inflic- tion of these baby dOpes upon helpless children. The oldest and most widely used of the soothing sy'rups, Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup" has recent eliminated opiates from it's composition.
 (6) Activity of the Preparation, Cau-
 tons Against Misuse-The preparation
 must be of such character that it will
 not be liable to endanger life or health
 when used in accordance with the ac- companying instructions, and if the preparation is one which is liable to oc-
 casion injury when improperly used or
 when used to excess, the accompanying
 literature must bear instructions tend
 ing to guard against such improper or excessive use.
 Most broadly dangerous of all the
 proprietary preparations are those
 whose active principle is one or an-
 other of the coal tar derivatives. acct
 anilid, phenacetin. antipyrin and the
 like Conspicuous in this class are
 Bromo Seltzer, Laxative Bromo Qui nine, Anti Kamnia, Orangeine and a
 host of headache powders and cold
 cures" Other forms of active poison
 found in nostrums are thyroid eXtraca in the anti-fat remedies; strychnine in liquor and tobacco habit cures,
 aud arsenic in tonics, not to mention the violent irritant poisons which are the active principle of hair removers and similar connections. Due warning of danger, on the label. would go far to safeguard the public in the use of these drugs.
 CD Immoral or Illegal Purposes preparation must not be intended for use as an abortifacient nor for use for any other immoral or illegal purpose.
 nor must it be advertised or recom-
 mended either directly or indirectly as an abortifacient or for any immoral or illegal purposes.
 (s) Incurable and Contagious Dis eases-The preparation must not be advertised or recommended as a cure 1 for diseases or conditions which are generally recognized as incurable by the simple administration of drugs, or | for the cure of contagious or acute dis | cases the treatment of which properly | requires the supervision of a qualified
 medical attendant.
 Of these two provisions the ccmmis-
 sion goes on record that it deems them of such evident propriety that
 no commentary is needed, and there 1 fore offers none" Yes. astonishing as | it may seem, the National Whoesale
 Druggists Association rejected No. s. l Apparently there was an element in
 tie associations strong enough to carry
 it's point, which insists upon preying on | incurables without interference. As to
 the contagious diseases, few nostrums