The New York herald., 1921-10-25
Physicians May Prescribe "a
Bottles at a Time Often
as Necessary.
VINE LIMIT TWO QUARTS
Secretary of Treasury Yields
to Demands Following Fail
ure Of Congress to Act.
Special Despotch to THE NEW York HrRaLp.
New York Herald bureau

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. G.. Oct. "a.
Real beer as medicine received the
official seal OF approval tonight from
Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon.
Mr.. Mellon affixed his signature to
regulations authorizing brewers to
make and sell beer with kick for
medicinal uses. Consumers can buy
only of retail druggists holding per-
mits to sell alcoholic liquors.
Physicians are authorized to pre-
scribe two and a half gallons or the
equivalent Of one case Of twenty four
bottles to a patient on a single pre-
scription. No lirnito ton is placed upon
the frequency of prescriptions that
may be issued. or the dates Of issue.
The regulations signed by Mr.. Mel
lon and drawn. under the direction OF
Commissioner of Internal Revenue David
II. Blair leave to physicians the widest
latitude in determining the malt liquor
needs of their patients ss.ss
The rules governing the manufacture
sale and distribution of malt liquors also
included provisions for the sale by retail
druggists OF wine for medicinal pur-
poses. Physicians may prescribe two
quarts OF wine on single prescription,
but are not limited in the frequency of
prescriptions issued AS in the case of
nedicinal beer they are to be allowed
discretion In deciains quantities ,neces-
sary for treatment of any given ailment..
Explaining the attitude Of the Treas
ury Department. which has been hedged
about with uncertainty for months. Mr.
Mellon issued statement: - =.
The Issuance OF the beer regulations
was delayed originally because It
seemed probable that legislation
would be enacted whereby the action
of the depa rtment would be of no
practical advantage to those inter-
ested; and this view appeared to be
acquiesccd in by them since there
was at that time no urgent denapd
for the issuance OF the regulations.
However, for some time past II has
been. strongly urged by those inter-
ested that this department had no
right longer to withhold the rcgula-
tions and that in SO doing the de-
partment is denying to those inter-
ested their clear legal right and
thereby imposing serious loss upon
them.
The legal rights of the parties be-
ing plain. the department is unable
longer to delay the issuance Of these
regulations.
Besides beer sales legal approval also
is given to the sale OF ale, porter. malt
extracts and other fermented malt
liquors containing more than one-half OF
one per cent.
Many brewers of the National Asso-
citation OF Brewers through counsel have
informed the Internal Revenue Bureau
that they are ready to operate on large
scale to fill demands from the public
for medicinal beer. A gauge on the pub
'ics need has been obtained from retail
druggists Druggists have been swamped
with requests or inquiries concerning
medicinal beer since first the Depart
.ment OF Justice held that such sales arc
clearly legal under the volstead law
Since the brewcries will not have to
change their methods Of manufacture
they are able to put out a large volume
OF real beer within short period. Some
OF their records and other business
procedure must be modified to conform
to the terms of the regulations. One OF
the requirements is the forwarding 10
directors once each month OF a complete
record or their manufacture and sale of
medicinal beer.
Within few days the legal machinery
will have been adjusted so that brewers
can I'll orders from the druggists trade.
Breweries operating under permits 10
manufacture so-called near beer which
is made by the old time beer process.
but is reduced in alcoholic content. viii
be required to ft up separate bottline
rooms In their plants for the real beer
Beer or. other malt liquors can be
bottled only by brewers In case lots and
the case must be closed" or sealed and
on the outside must bear a uniform
label.
The beer regulations state that II Is
not absolutely necessary for a physician
to make personal examination of a
patient before issuing a prescription for
malt liquors as medicine. He must be
fairly well convinced. however, that II
will aid recovery in some known ai'ment
froit1 tf.htrb Tho fctfopt r,,ny hf u,,fforf,