2S8 
THE SALE OF MEDICATED WINES. 
that the Board will not insist on his doing so “if the wine be sold under the 
Patent Medicine Licence, and have a stamp on each bottle.” 
I cannot say whether there was any special circumstance in Mr. Woolley’s case, 
in the wording of his label or otherwise, which made him liable to the licence or 
stamp, or that rendered the one avoidable by the adoption of the other; but I 
beg most respectfully, on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Chemists of Great Britain, 
whom this Society represents, to ask, whether the sale of Medicated Wines , pre¬ 
pared either with British or Foreign Wine , does really involve the necessity to the 
vendor to possess a licence of any kind ? 
I may submit to you that for centuries, wine of various kinds has been used 
as a menstruum for medicinal substances, and instance as familiar examples, aloes , 
antimony, colchicum, ipecacuanha , rhubarb , and steel, —these are compounds of 
foreign wines; but more recently advantage lias been taken of the acid and aro¬ 
matic properties of Orange Wine to use it as a solvent for quinine, the particu¬ 
lar preparation now brought in question. 
All these articles are used as medicine, and medicine only . By the admixture 
of drugs they are entirely taken out of the category of “ beverages ,” and, whether 
by special exemption or common understanding I know not, they have always 
been sold without licence by chemists. 
Feeling assured that your Honourable Board can have no wish to throw impe¬ 
diments in the way of medical science, or of trade, I venture to hope that you 
will kindly vouchsafe me the information now sought, and to subscribe myself 
with all respect,—Your most obedient servant, 
Geoege W. Saxdfoed, 
President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. 
(Answer.) 
Inland Pevenue Office, 3rd Dec., 1863. 
Sir,—I am desired by the Commissioners to inform you, in reply to your let¬ 
ter of the 10th ultimo, respecting the sale of “Medicated Wines,” that they 
are advised that whenever the articles are held out by label or advertisement as 
beneficial to persons suffering from any ailment affecting the human body, they 
can only legally be sold under a Patent Medicine Licence, and with a stamped 
label on each packet; and also, in strictness, under an Excise foreign or British 
Wine Licence, according to the character of the wine. 
The Board however have instructed me to add, that except in cases where 
there may be reason to believe that a beverage is being sold under colour of a me¬ 
dicine they will not interfere with the sale, without an Excise licence, of medi¬ 
cated wines of the description adverted to, provided that such medicines do not 
fall under the category of patent medicines.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
Wm. Cokbett. 
G. W. Sandford, Fsq. 
We were at first at a loss to conceive that the name of Orange Quinine Wine 
could ever have been used as a colourable pretext for avoiding a licence: it cer¬ 
tainly was not so used in Mr. Woolley’s case ; but rumours have reached us that 
there has been an appearance of evasion in some cases, that a preparation has 
been sold of which three or four glasses may be taken at any time , and if this be 
true, the interference of the Excise is explained. We trust no member of our 
body would stoop to such a proceeding, and feel assured we can only continue to 
enjoy that courtesy and consideration which has always been shown us by the 
Board of Inland Revenue, by discountenancing such tricks. 
