STIMULANTS AND NARCOTICS 79 



children who are given soothing sirups often become stupefied. 

 If these compounds are given frequently, they injure the 

 child permanently, and in larger doses have caused death. If 

 cough sirups and like compounds are taken often, an opium 



BEWARE OF ACETANILID 



A large proportion of the most common head- 

 ache medicines sold at drug stores depend for 

 their effectiveness on the heart-depressing ac- 

 tion of acetanilid. In some cases three or more 

 grains of this drug are present in each dose. 



The Pure Food and Drug Law requires all 

 makers of patent medicines to indicate clearly 

 on the labels of such preparations the presence 

 of acetanilid and other dangerous compounds. 

 Hence one has but to read the labels and avoid 

 these nostrums in order to protect himself. 



Take no headache remedy without consulting a 

 doctor, unless you are sure it contains no acetanilid. 

 Make the druggist tell you. He is responsible. A suit 

 for damages has recently been won against a New York 

 drug store for illness consequent upon the sale of a 

 " guaranteed harmless" headache tablet containing three 

 grains of acetanilid. 



FIG. 24. Acetanilid and other drugs in patent medicines. 



habit may be developed, which is even more difficult to over- 

 come than is the alcohol habit. 



107. Patent medicines as "bracers." Figure 25 repre- 

 sents the percentage of alcohol contained in three " patent 

 medicines" as given by the Massachusetts State Board of 



