The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-24
MEDICINE
ADCHEl;K
ASKED
Witnesses at Rathbone Serum
Bill Hearings Would In
clude Patent Cures.

Efforts to widen the scope Of
the Rathbone bill to control the
advertising of serums, toxins and
viruses to include patent medi-
cines were launched at a hearing
today before the special House
subcommittee.
Several witnesses took the
stand in favor of the Rathbone
bill. The effort to include patent
medicines was led by Congress
man Stanley H. Kunz Of Illinois.
Amendment Offered.
An amendment to the Rathbone
bill was offered Immediately after
the opening Of the hearing by H.
B. Anderson, secretary Of the Cit
liens Medical Reference Bureau.
His amendment would prevent any
Federal office, bureau, board or
commission from publishing any
statement representing that it had
recommended any virus. serum or
vaccine for general adoption bv
any State or municipal body or by
the public for the alleged cure or
prevention Of any disease or
diseases"
Among the witnesses heard in
addition to Mr.. Anderson were DIR.
William H. Parks. director of the
Bureau Of Laboratories Of New
York. and professor Of bacteriology
and hygiene OF the New York Uni
versity Medical school; DR.. Charles
A. l.. Reed, Of Cincinnati, former
president Of the American Medical
Association; DR.. George w. Mccoy,
director Of the hygienic labora'
tory Of the Treasury Department,
and DIR. H. K. Craig, Of Washing
ton.
Market Full Of Drugs.
DIR. Park. who appeared at the
request Of the health commissioner
of New York, told the committee
that at present there is a great
amount Of valueless drugs on the
market. While the majority Of these
drugs are harmless, he stated, many
cases Of illness have been traced to
their use.
He stated that he had supervised
a test Of "anti-cold and pneumonia
vaccine" He secured 1900 volun-
teers who were suffering from cold
and pneumonia to take the vaccine
and an additional. 800 similarly af-
flicted who were not to take the
vaccine but were to submit detailed
reports on the progress Of their
cases. At the end of the test, he
stated both groups showed practical
ly the same proportion Of cures.
There are a number Of vaccines
on the market Of which we are not
at all sure" he said.
He was asked if the present
Treasury Department regulations
under which licenses are issued to
biological laboratories were not sui.
ficient to safeguard the public. DR..
Mccoy interjected and told the com.
mittee that the regulation covering
the matter is merely a department
regulation and is not founded in
law.
There Is now a great deal Of
advertising in the public press and
other publications which greatly
exaggerates the merits Of serums
and similar products" DR.. Parks
resumed. Even the experienced
physician cannot, without careful
examination, separate the wheat
from the chaff in all Of these state
ments."
Public Needs Protection.
"For this reason, If for no other,
this bill or some similar measure
should be passed. The type Of
advertising Is absolutely against the
public welfare. We cannot be too
strict in this matter"
DR.. Reed was called to the stand
and told the committee that he had
abandoned his medical practice in
order to take up the education Of
the public against the use Of worth
less drugs and medicines. He
stated that he is reaching five
million readers daily through health
articles in 1873 newspapers. He
stated that he was appearing volun.
tarily before the committee because
he Is convinced that there should
be- some check on the danger Of
unscrupulous. advertising.
"The whole situation strikes me
as one of growing danger" he
stated. because OF the broader use
by INSCRIPTIONS advertising Of semi.
scientific publications. Many mis-.
representations are being made by
manufacturers who cloak the worth.
lessness Of their products under
scientifically worded advertising.
Many commissions are misled by
some Of this matter"
He admitted in response to a
question by Congressman Kunz that
'because Of it's volume the patent
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