Report from the Select Committee on patent medicines.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Patent Medicines.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report from the Select Committee on patent medicines. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    xxTin, report from the select jIITTEB on patent medicines. COM Advert; isements Act be amended on the lines of Lord amend the following legislative enactments :— ^V^LCominittee further recon hie, and every proprietary remedy containing pharmacological purposes, be required to state upon L oXv)el the proportion of alcoi qol contained in it. (2)' ’hat the advertisement and sa ^]e (except the sale by a doctor’s order) of medicines p'-^^ortino’ to cure the follow! i^g diseases be prohibited :— cancer consumptixn lupus deafness locomotor ataxy Bright’s disease rupture without operation or appliance). diabetes paralysis fits epilepsy (3) That all advertisements of reinedie ,g fQj. diseases arising from sexual intercourse or referring to sexual weakness be , prohibited. (4) That all advertisements likely to sugp -vgt that a medicine is an abortifacient be nrohibited. M rm-o n * (5) That it be a breach of the law to/cnange u- ^ composition of a remedy without informing the Department of anga (6) That fancy names for recognised ori^s oe^°auj\^0ct to regulation. (7) That the period of validity of a naine used as 1 trade mark for a drag be limited, as in the case of patents and copyiig ts. \ (8) That it be a breach of the law to give a fall of any remedv and that the following be a definition of a falst^^ de^Won “ A statement design or device regarding any article or pre.^^g^gj^ or theN^rugs or ineredients or substances contained therein, or the curat, or therapeutib. effect thereof which is false or misleading in any particular. ! And that the onus of proof that he had reasonable ground for belief m the ^ of any statement Tiy him regarding a remedy, be placed upon the manufac^ proprietor of such (i) That it be a breach of the law ^ (a) To enclose with one remedy printed matter recommending another remedy. ^ ^ sufferers from any ailment to correspond with the vendor ^ (6^ Xo^niake use of the name of a fictitious person in connection with a remedy. should be within the power of the Department to permit p^nption of an^old-established remedy from this provision.) (d) To make use of fictitious testimonials. (e) To publish a recommendation of a secret remedy by a medical practitioner unless his or her full name, qualifications and address be given. {/) To promise to return money paid if a cure is not effected. 59. In conclusion, your Committee believe that departmental and legislative action as outlined above wdll not inflict injustice upon any patent or proprietary medicine or appliance; that it will, alike by its operative and its deterrent effect, afford the public efficient and urgently needed protection against injury and fraud; and that no measures of a smaller scope will secm’e this result. 60. We desire to express our high appreciation of the services of our clerk, Mr. F. C. Bramwell. His duties in connection with our long enquiry have been onerous and delicate, and he has discharged them with great ability and tact.