WHAT IS A PATENT MEDICINE ?
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
Sra,—Being considerably interested in the Patent Medicine Trade I should feel much obliged, if you or one of your numer- ous correspondents would state what is really a patent medicine ; for instance, are the following patent medicines, and if not why not ? Dental creams or powders, which claim to prevent or cure pyorrhea, hair oils, ointments and the like which claim to cure or prevent baldness. Embrocations and the like, to relieve and/or cure rheumatism, cuts, bruises, &c. Salts which claim to improve the general health, giving vigour and youth to those using them. Preparations for removing corns and/or callouses from the feet. And, of course, the host of pills, tablets, liquids and other advertised remedies to cure all the illnesses in the world. Are medicated wines, claiming specific healing powers, to be taken as patent medicines ? In short are all preparations claiming a healing, soothing, rejuvenat- ing, &c. effect on the body patent medicines ?—Yours faith-
•
fully, F. VOIGHT. 39 Broomhill Road, Goodmayes, Essex.
[The difficulty of defining a patent medicine was evidently felt by the Select Committee appointed to deal with the question in 1914, for it devoted considerable space to a discussion of the subject, under the headings Non-Secret Remedies, Secret Remedies and Medicated Wines (some of the latter having an alcoholic strength of as much as 20 per cent.).—$n. The Spectator.]
Previous page
