Mr. Warton got his opportunity yesterday week of calling the
attention of the House to the subject of patent medicines, and of proposing that the Government stamp affixed shall ex- plain that this involves no Government guarantee of the useful- ness of the medicine ; and that when the medicine contains poisonous ingredients, the word " poison " shall be attached. Mr. Hibbert, on behalf of the Government, rather praised Mr. Warton for his suggestions, though not committing the Govern- ment to any absolute acceptance of them,—which must have been soothing, on the whole, to Mr. Warton's feelings. No doubt, his suggestions are sensible enough ; though whether the time of Parliament is well expended in discussing proposals for attempting to undeceive people who are weak enough to think that a Government stamp on a medicine-bottle is a guarantee for the suitability of the medicine contained in it to cure any malady they may be suffering from, remains as doubtful as ever. Could not Mr. Warton do more for his own end, and, perhaps, for Parliament also, by devoting himself to the philanthropic task of explaining the dangers of patent medicines, throughout the length and breadth of the land ? That would be a mission worthy of his abilities, and one to which even the House of Commons would not grudge his services.
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