MEDICAL QUACKS AND PATENT MEDICINES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 6 September 1907, Page 4

MEDICAL QUACKS AND PATENT MEDICINES.

Mr W. G. Hearne, the proprietor of Hearne's celebrated bronchitis cure, etc., is forwarding the following letter to the members of the House of Representatives:— . With regard to legislation under consideration by you for the suppression of medical quacks and fraudulent practices, I have the honor of addressing you on the subject. X respectfully submit that a really good, useful and legitimate medicine that has positively a curing power—the particulars of which it is necessary lo announce to those whom it may concern, stating its exact use in correct language by means of truthful advertisements—should not be restricted or interfered with, it being of great public service and benefit to the commuunity generally, and particularly to those living m the country away from the reach of medical practitioners. The money value of a medicine is not in proportion to its quantity, but is ! n proportion to its rapid efficacy" in effecting a cure. A medicine, each dose of which greatly benefits the patient, is more valuable tnan one of one which a bottleful does but little or no good at all; for the quickest dure is the best cure, and the quickest cure means the saving of life in many where with a slow, doubtful or bad treatment the life would be lost. My experience Is that people are quite satisfied to pay the market prices of any of Hearne's medicines.

The Buccess of medicine in healing an illness depends upon its nature and quality, the exactness of every detail of its preparation and manufacture, and j the particular proportions and way in whicn these proportions are combined. Some of the most valuable of the preparations in the present British Pharmacopoeia were originally secret medicines. In some, cases, the discoverers were handsomely rewarded by the Governments and other authorities.. Considering that this.is the case, it would be manifestly unfair to attempt to compel the owner of such a medicine to reveal the secrets of its manufacture, and also unwise, because most probably harm would result if such a course were adopted, for either the proprietor of such a medicine would prefer lo withdraw his medicine from that conntry, or, -if even he did reveal the formula, unprincipled persons in all directions would unceasingly endeavor to get the details, and make imitations, which, in snch cases generally lack the scrupulous exactitude that the original discoverer prides himself upon. There are at the present time persons imitating my medicines as nearly as they can. One has imitated my labels word for word, using the same face type and lettering and arrangement of label, and another the exact color of the wrapping paper, while in each of the bottles wis a slovenly and bad imitation of the appearance of my medicine. It is easy to see what might be expected if it were made compulsory to reveal the formula of a valuable medicine. It may be advanced that a leakage of the details revealed to the Government officer or board could not occur, but I respectfully submit that the only safety of the details is when they are in the sole possession of the rightful owner, and that the product of his brain has always been considered the high-born right of a Britisher.

Hearne's medicines have been in the bands of the public for the last twenty | years, during which time their reputation has steadily risen year by year. The exact use of each of Hearne's medicines is clearly defined on its labels, and every advertisement in connection with them is strictly truthful. Every testimonial for Hearne's medicines has been tendered to the proprietor from a sense of duty and feeling of gratitude voluntarily, without solicitation and without remuneration of any kind. Assuming that your object is the suppression of medical quacks, extortioners

and frauds—and at the same time to refrain from interfering with good and legitimate proprietary medicines now doing a public service—l respectfully submit that this will be effectually attained by actively enforcing the law dealing with a person obtaining money under false pretences, "and my making it an

offence punishable by a heavy penalty of, say, £IOO, or not less than £SO, to be enforced against any person or persons, or any number of persons who directly or indirectly pay or offer to

jjay for a testimonial or recommendation—or pays or offers payment to any person to recommend any preparation, medical or electrical appliance, treatment or advice, etc., or who having committed such an offence, continues to carry. on the profession, business or occupation in connection with which such fraudulent testimonials were obtained; «nd against any person or persons who use the title "Doctor" before the name of any preparation, etc., in a fictitious manner calculated to deceive the public, and against any person or persons who charge large sums of money such as £lO, £2O, or £SO, and similar extortionate amounts for treatment, as some herbalisms and medical quacks do. The medicines which these persons make are not patent or proprietary medicines in the ordinary acceptation of the term.