The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1919-05-22
Druggists To Report
Sale OF Drugs. ~


Recent Investigation of conditions
In a sawmill town in this State devel-
oped the following situation: OF 50
persons found infected with venereal
disease. 50 or over 81 per cent had re-
sorted to patent medicines. drug store
prescriptions, ''root-doctors," or self
medication for treatment Only
slightly over 10 per cent had placed
themselves under a physicians care.
While this situation may be somewhat
unusual, 1t may safely be said that
more than half OF the yenereal dis
eases contracted in this State never
COME to the attention Of licensed
physician.
The psychology of the human mind
Is difficult to fathom. Most sufferers
from any OF the common diseases -ex
cepting chills or nakebite-will apply
TO doctos for treatment, whereas the
doctor is the most Stunned person
In case of venereal disease. There
are probably a number OF reasons for
this, the two most prominent being
shame and the expense involved in
cure.
These are not, however, sufficiently
good reasons Cor endangering the pub
lie health, and reducing the chances OF
cure In the individual by the use OF a
patent remedy advised by a friend, or
the futile efforts of self-treatment, or
the silly and dangerous medication OF
a root doctor" Claims that syphilis
successfully responds to treatment
with nostrums, and that gonorrhea is
little worse than cold, may lead to
serious consequences.
The use OF patent nostrums in vene'
real cases delays the return OF the in
1iyidual to normal efficiency, and fails
10 check the spread of the disease in
the community; for patent remedies
for seif-treatment do not stamp out
venereai infection.
Since only fraction Of the cases Of
venereal disease contracted ever
reach the attention OF licensed physi
clans, the reporting OF venereal dis
eases by physicians alone will neither
give a true indication OF the actual
state of affairs, nor lead to the control
Of more than portion OF the venereal
disease in existence. 1t was for this
reason that the State Board OF Health
passed formal regulation requiring
that "any druggist or other person
who sells any drugs. compound, prepar
alton, or substance of any kind when
purchased for the treatment of any
venereal diseases, except when pre-
scribed by licensed practitioner OF
medicine, shall keep a record of tho
NAME" and other information regard
ing "the person making such pur.
chase,"--and these records OF sales
shall be forwarded to the State Board
of Health
1t Is also provided in these Regula
tons that circulars of instruction
shall be handed to purchasers of such
remedies, so they may be advised OF
the precautions to be taken for their
early recovery and the protection OF
those with whom they come in con.
tact.
The United States Public Health
Service recently addressed letter to
II the druggists of the country, point
ng out to them the responsibility they
oore In selling remedies which, as a
rule, are to be considered detrimental
% the welfare OF their purchasers,
md asking them to pledge themselves
to discontinue the sale OF such rene
dies. Previously to this time all the
Rexall Stores in the State had volun.
tarily decided to discontinue the sale
of patent remedies OF this nature. and
many others responded to the Govern
ment appeal. In some States the sale
ct patent remedies for the treatment