"POISON LAID FOR FOOLS."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 158, 25 June 1908, Page 4

"POISON LAID FOR FOOLS."

The following editorial eommenl up]>eared as a mb-leader in tin* Oamaru Mail, dated lUlh Ax'i'il, rJUti:—' 'Whilst naturally enough, lliu proceedings yesterday to celebrate a marked stage progress in Mr. Dane's medical industry wa> designed to increase the popularity" of an already well-known product, yet it po-ses-ed feature* which are o Inconsiderable public interest and pointed a moral. It is nt' much moment to -New Zealanders that they should provide as many as possible of their own requirements. ot' whatever kind; and, above all, that they should make themselves indcj>endcnt of foreign so-called medical preparations. If it be necessary, for the sake of health, that the purity of our food supplies should be assured, and thai 1 we aliuuhl not be degraded by shabby habitimi'nUj how much more ought we to guard against deception in expedient* J which it is professed arrest, mitigate, i or curi' r'.isea>e. The exposures of the composition of patent medicines whica '* luiw taken place in the United States I should mi Hire to deter any ordinarily discreet person from trusting to preparations from such a source, unless ' tiiev are accredited by our reliable modi- | cal 'iiti'ii. It is almost incOnt-eivahle that i people will, ill spite of all warnings tatv<* nuclt packages of mystery on trust. In dealing with articles which are declared to Ik' medicinal cures, there should necessarily be the utmost caution, lest s«nue useless thing cause delay in checking di-ease, or some virulent poison Aggravate the patient's condition. To be ou the safe si do, it should be concluded that nothing whose composition is ljoi known to be appropriate to a complaint -linllld be taken by the sull'erer. It is. or should be, universally recognised that, in the commercial world there is no honesty that is not enforced -thai desperate competition drives men to dodges \vho>e results are akiu to manslaughter. Hence, that which is disguised should. in self-defence, be viewed a- fraudulent and dangerous. unless known to be otherwise. When, therefore. incident to commercial enterprise, a really genuine medicine is to the public, the event is one tor self .ongratulatioii. Mr. Lane** ingeitioii | and scientific amalgamation of the in 1 uredii-nts which comprise his balm toi the breathing apparatus of mankind ha> attrai ted attention to the advantage oi the inventor (Mr Lane), "Tin* Company ciUo Mr. Urn-hand the public, who not <llllv rcipiire reliable cures, but who are advantaged by vigorous local industries. That Mr. Lille's industry i- nourishing is evidenced by the exhibits which were nit vi<'W at hi- lactory ye-te]'d;iy. an■ I thai it \< based on genuine merit ivouched for by J)r. -Mason's ungrudging testimonial."