The Regulation of the Sale of Proprietary and Secret Drugs

THE long-drawn-out agitation which the medical profession has kept alive for many years in the interests of the public against unauthorised medical practice and the unrestricted 'sale of secret remedies has at length produced practical results in so far that Parliament has appointed a Select Committee to inquire into" the sale of patent and proprietary medicines and medical preparations and appliances and advertisements relating thereto." The next stage can hardly be other than legislative enactments to protect the legitimate rights of the helpless and ignorant public. With the exception of the publication by the Privy Council of a Blue-book dealing with unqualified practice, the various Government departments have shown themselves singularly remiss in asserting their powers to protect the public against the wiles of the quack and the mendacity of the manufacturers of secret remedies. Indeed, it would appear that the deliberate policy of the Home Office for many years past has been to leave the correction of the evils of quackery to the spread of education rather than to legislation or prosecution. Public opinion in this country on the subject of the values of foods and the efficacy of drugs is chiefly formulated by advertisement. I t would be sounder policy to begin the campaign against quackery by educating our politicians than by attempting to enlighten a public which seems rather to enjoy this kind of imposture. If the present inquiry elicits no additional evidence of importance,