Consequently, the principal ingredient of these remedies is either whiskey, morphine, cocaine, or acetanilid, the first three of which will cause a drug habit, if continued for any length of time; the last, a powerful heart depressant that has caused many deaths.

We should teach the people that if they want a drink of whiskey, that it is much better to procure it from a reputable dealer, than pay double the amount for " rot gut," and then attempt to humbug themselves, their family, and friends into the idea that their health is failing, or that "Pe-ru-na" or some like nostrum is essential for their well-being. Mothers should know that morphine will stop almost any cough temporarily, but at the same time it locks up the secretions, and leaves their infants in a much worse condition than before this harmless cough remedy was taken. Nearly every one at times suffers from headache, and there is always found a friend or knowing druggist who will recommend Bromo-Seltzer, or some other such remedy that will relieve in a short time. True, it will relieve, but he has taken enough acetanilid to make the strongest heart grow faint, and it is here that a few sudden deaths are produced. That some few of these ingredients are beneficial for certain ailments, no one will deny, but how certain of our preachers and public men will come out in print and recommend these remedies for all diseases of the heart and kidneys, etc., is more than I can understand. Some few of these statements are given to the manufacturer on account of relief received, many are paid for, some are gotten through political traffic, and many are absolutely false.

Any one with moderate education and sense knows that there are many different forms of heart, kidney, or stomach trouble; that all of these diseases have different stages, and that remedies that are applicable to one variety are contraindicated in another, and what is beneficial at one stage of a disease is injurious later on; and yet they pass these remedies off on the public as a specific for all, and the public allows this fake to go on, knowing full well that they are humbugged, and that thousands upon thousands of happy homes are sacrificed each year on account of this nefarious practice.

Of late there has been going on in this city a crusade against

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the bill posters of a certain theater placing in conspicuous places their flaring prints of females dressed in transparent costumes. It is true that these advertisements are suggestive and create a train of thought in the youth of the city that is not to be desired, and yet there goes into every home the daily newspaper containing patent medicine advertisements, describing the peculiar diseases. of each sex, calling attention to sure cures for both male and female of loathsome diseases. Often we see a remedy for suppression of the menses, or in other words, a medicine that will produce abortion, and there has appeared the cut of a certain syringe for the prevention of conception. These disgusting articles are given prominent places, so that it is impossible for our daughters, our wives, or sisters to fail seeing them. These humbugs, with their prominent and often filthy advertisements, have been perpetrated on the public too long. The time is now ripe, it can be stopped, and will be, if our profession will only present a united front.

The success of a patent medicine does not depend on the virtue of its ingredients, or the apparent cure of disease. It relies on getting men with money to back it, then thousands and thousands of dollars are spent on advertising. Each week or month a more conspicuous ad. is placed, promising a free bottle for trial; then the mischief begins, the innocents receive their bottle, religiously take it, of course feel better temporarily from the stimulating effect of the alcohol, strychnia, or morphine. Having a desire to keep up this good feeling, he sends for more, and in the meantime informs his friend of the wonderful effect of this remedy. In a few months he says he cannot live without it, and so indeed he cannot; but he should not think that he is alone in his affliction, for there are many millions who cannot live without their booze.

The laws of this state make it a crime to perform abortion, except as a last resort for the relief of certain pathologic conditions, and yet every day there are published in our daily papers advertisements that are guaranteed to accomplish this act; and, strange to say, these corporations are never prosecuted. The laws of the state also prohibit the selling of alcohol, unless a license

is obtained; and yet it is possible to go into any drug store, and even in many cross-road country stores, and buy patent medicines that contain anywhere from ten to forty per cent. of alcohol. That this condition of affairs exists is a blot on our national honor, that these corporations are backed by millions and owned by men who are highly respected in their communities is a public disgrace, and that they are allowed to break state laws and impose on the ignorant and unsuspecting is a crime that needs the most. stringent of measures for its correction.

The reason that this state of affairs is allowed to go on is first due to the fact that they have an almost unlimited capital to use for illegitimate purposes; and secondly they scatter many millions among the press for advertising, provided they say nothing that is detrimental to them. A few high class papers will not accept their advertisements, and the recent articles on the subject in Collier s and the Ladies' Home Journal have had an inestimable effect for good in educating the public as to how these frauds are carried on, and the great harm that has been done in many instances. Such articles in lay papers will have a most beneficial effect in educating the public as to how these frauds are carried out, how they obtain their testimonials, and by printing their analyses it shows how little of merit is in the ingredients. Unfortunately, these papers that are clean enough to refuse patent medicine advertisements and are bold enough to wage war on them, are few and far between, and for this reason a large majority of the consumers never see these articles. It therefore remains for us not only to educate the public, but to see that laws are enacted and enforced to prevent this great fraud that is going on in our midst.

I desire to-night to suggest what I believe will be a most efficient remedy in this state. This Academy of Medicine is the largest county organization in the state. We have as members men who are known all over the country, and any recommendation that is made by this society will be treated with great respect by the state society, the legislature and the public at large. I therefore would recommend that this society instruct its delegates to the State Association as follows:

That the State Association recommend to the Legislature of this state the passage of a law that compels the manufacturers of patent medicine that operate in this state to place in a conspicuous place on the label of every package, all the ingredients, and also the amount of each ingredient to the dose of the medicine; also, that those that contain over seven per cent. of alcohol, or any amount of morphine, opium, chloral, cocaine, strychnia, ergot, oil of cedar, or acetanilid shall be printed in red letters. That if they fail to comply with this law or make a false statement on the label, either as to ingredients contained or the amount of each ingredient to the dose, they shall be prohibited from operating in this state.

It is true that if this was recommended by the state society, and no further steps taken, it would never be passed; but if a committee from each county society is appointed by the state society to see the senators and representatives from their respective counties, and, if possible, this committee should be made up of the family physicians of the representatives and senators from each county, and tell them of the evils of the patent medicine traffic; in spite of the united press, the thousands of dollars that will be spent in lobbying by the manufacturers, it will become a law. A competent lawyer will be needed to draft a bill to this effect, and the state society will have to appoint a chairman of a committee for each county; and this chairman, after he sees who will be the senators and representatives from his district should appoint a committee to assist him in placing before their representatives the evils of patent medicines, and the necessity of public protection from them. One state has passed a law to this effect, and in a few other states it is now being fought out in the legislatures. Our duty is clear, let us all put our shoulders to the wheel, and protect our fellow Tennesseans from this pestilence.

SHOULD DOCTORS ADVERTISE?*

BY DEERING J. ROPERTS, M. D., OF NASHVILLE, TENN.

Ar a recent meeting of this Academy a committee was appointed for the purpose of conferring with the Tennessee Press

* Read at Regular Meeting of Nashville Academy of Medicine, Tuesday, April 10, 1906, and published in accordance with resolution adopted by the Academy.

Association in regard to certain points or measures that have a vital interest to the people at large, the welfare of whom are alike objects of material interest deserving careful consideration by both the medical profession and "the Fourth Estate." These matters consisting of certain classes of advertising that are more or less detrimental to large numbers of our citizens. While said committee brought these matters very ably and logically before the Press Association, and were accorded a very courteous hearing, yet the members of the latter looking only at the pecuniary aspects of the matter as affecting themselves, entirely ignored the questions so logically and ably presented to them by your committee; and with one accord, "Tray, Blanche, and Sweetheart," limited their remarks solely to the direct charges that the doctors did not, and would not patronize their advertising columns; asserting that they were ignoring the first principles of progressive business men.

Having been a member of the Tennessee Press Association in years past, and knowing that its membership is largely made. up of representatives of the weekly, or I might say, county papers, whose advertising patronage is largely derived from two sources, viz: legal advertising and patent medicines, including quacks, quack remedies and other fakes; the revenues derived from the former by reason of competition and unjust restrictions being by far the least of the two, while the latter may be regarded as "pay dirt," notwithstanding the "take-out" of the go-between, the middle man, or advertising agent.

It is quite natural that when the "goose that lays the golden egg is assailed, that when the source from which the very essential dollars is derived is discussed, that personal interest should at once refuse to see the beam that is obstructing the vision in their eyes, and endeavor to point out a mote that in their estimation, or rather, imagination, is in some one else's eye, even in the eyes of those dubbed by the Nashville Banner of March 27, as a 'bunch of ethics." This we may consider quite natural in our friends whom we so esteem as purveyors of news and manufacturers of opinions, who in the same issue will indulge in well-written and classically worded editorials in behalf of the

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