QUACKERY PREVENTION BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2206, 9 October 1907, Page 2

QUACKERY PREVENTION BILL.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO IN TRODUCE LEGISLATION.

(Special to Times.)

WELLINGTON, October, 8,

The committee apjjoiuted to consider Mr Hornsby’s Quackery Prevention Bill presented its report today. The committee, through the chairman (Mr Ha nan), reported that aft-qg- carefu-Uy considering the Bill ■and taking evidence thereon it re commended that the Bill he not pro ceeded with in its jireseint form. In the meantime, however, the committee, in view of the serious matters sought to he dealt with by the Bill- - impressed upon the Govern ment the urgent necessity for pass ing legislation this session, viz., (1) preventing the advertising arid supply of any preparation, medicine o: appliance alleged to be for the prevention, alleviation or cure of ana human ailment or physical defect which in the opinion of a Judge ol the Supreme Court is harmful tc health or of a character that it cannot have the effect claimed for it o: cannot effect the purpose for which •it was supplied; (2) to make it unlawful for any person to sell, offer, or attempt to sell or supply any preparation or medicine for the prevention, alleviation or cure of human ailments unless it shall he accompanied by the formula' of preparation, which 6bial he accurately stated and legibly printed upon the label of the bottle or package immediately .containing the preparation or medicine this clause shall not apply when (a) any such preparation or medicine is supplied on a prescription given by a duly registe.red medical praeti tiouer, or (b) to any person who ap plies to and proves to the satisfac tion of any Judge of the Supreme Court that liis preparation or medd cine is an original and secret one and that the quality, nature, and ascertained properties of the components and of the composition itseli are not harmful to health, not of a fraudulent nature, that the preparation or medicine is of such a character as may Have the effect claimed for it, or may effect the purpose foi which it was supplied, and that it may with safety be entrusted to inexperienced and uninformed persons for the purpose of self-treatment): (3) to make it unlawful for any person in advertising any medicine, preparation, or appliance a 6 above to unwarrantably use the' name of any medical man or false title, such as “Dr. ——’s patent cure,” or the name of any person, which would convey a wrong impression; (I) to make it unlawful for any person other than a duly registered medical practitioner or qualified veterinary surgeon to sell or supply any appliance or preparation which may be used for preventative purposes, “appliance or preparation” to be defined by regulation Gazetted.

Press Association

It would be, the report stated, for the Health Officer to apply to the Supreme Court, and the burden oi proof would rest on him to prove that a medicine or preparation wac worthless, of a fraudulent nature, or not calculated to do the good that was claimed for it. If he could not prove this, the Judge would not grant an injunction suppressing ad vertisements. Many advertisements appeared in papers, books, serials, etc., of cures and remedies which were absolute frauds. Something should be done to prevent people being deceived and wasting money on their purchase.' The formulae of nearly all patent medicines were

known to analysts. Many proprietary medicines owned by respectable firms had their contents set forth on the labels. Some of the biggest sellers of standard medicines set out the contents of their compounds on the label. In Germany, in certain parts of France, and in some of the United States of America it was made compulsory to put the formula on the bottles or packages. Mr. Hanan referred to a number of medicines which had a large sale, and when analysed contained nothing new in the way of ingredients, and winch could bo bought under other names at half price. Some medicines were advertised that were positively injurious. People would not- buy some patent medicines if they knew Jho contents. The ovideuco placed before the committee mado it the clear duty of the Government to legislate oil the subjects dealt with in the report, which was further justified by reason of the startling discoveries made in Mr. Beale’s rerecent report on the same subjects to the New South Wales Government.