CORRESPONDENCE. 
439 
my visit as a wish to satisfy myself in the 
matter of prices, having 1 a few days pre¬ 
viously been shown, by Dr. Tanner, of New¬ 
ington Causeway, an ounce bottle of How¬ 
ard’s citrate of iron and quinine, which a 
patient of his bought at the Stores for Is. 8 d. 
Surely, Sir, when our legitimate interests 
are at stake, it is high time to “ be up and 
doing,” for many chemists are complaining 
of the injury occasioned by a system which, 
for aught we know, may be still in its infancy. 
Thus far I have pointed out dangers which 
surround us, but must leave to older and 
abler heads than mine the task of grappling 
with the foe, simply entertaining a hope 
that the agitation which has sprung up, will 
result in a combined meeting of the trade, 
backed by some of the more influential mem¬ 
bers of our Society, to consider the matter in 
its entirety, and, if possible, suggest a 
remedy. 
With every apology for trespassing so 
much on your space, 
I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, 
“ Peobitas.” 
Patent Medicine Licences. 
Sir,—Having been a seller of patent medi¬ 
cines about thirty years, and having several 
proprietary articles of my own, I feel con¬ 
siderable interest in the matter, and it is a sub¬ 
ject that has greatly occupied my attention. 
Now, although having a most clear con¬ 
viction that the laws relating to patent 
medicines require modification and revision, 
I have long been decided in my opinion as 
to the impolicy of removing either the 
licence or the duty. My reasons are just 
these:—Were the licence abolished the num¬ 
ber of dealers (out of our trade) would be 
greatly increased, and this would not oniy 
operate in injuring our trade in these articles, 
but in other goods as well. 
I know of booksellers who not only sell an 
immense number of patent medicines, but 
who also actually themselves prescribe a 
great part of these to persons suffering from 
various ailments,—De Jongh’s cod-liver oil 
and chlorodyne for cougli9, etc., various 
pills, ointments, etc., for different com¬ 
plaints. In fact, some publish a list which 
is sent out by thousands, mentioning most 
of the diseases to which flesh is heir, with 
their appropriate patent medicine. 
Now with regard to the medicine label, it 
seems to me it would be easy enough to 
legislate upon this point, as whenever it 
was desired to claim an individual interest 
it would be to the proprietor’s advantage to 
secure this by the stamp. “ Smith’s pills ” 
(of whatever composed) might justly be 
made to pay duty, but “ Antibilious, or 
cough pills, prepared by T. Smith,” should 
not have to do so. 
If you do away with the stamp, you will, 
I think, have all sorts of things put up for 
sale; and if you do away with the licence 
there will be a great increase of vendors in 
these articles. 
You will see the booksellers’ windows, 
who have a licence, full of the various 
patent cod-liver oils. The grocers are now 
filling theirs with Price’s Glycerine. And 
if the duty and licence be taken off, other 
things will soon follow. 
At all events it seems an absurdity to 
confine the sale of certain poisons to edu¬ 
cated persons if any one, who chooses to 
take out a licence, can sell chlorodyne, cough 
mixtures, liniments, etc. containing the rqost 
potent drugs, and if any one who chooses 
can sell poisonous sheep-dippings, vermin 
killers, etc., even without a licence; and my 
own opinion is, that if patent medicines be 
allowed, their sale should be confined to 
those and those alone who are allowed to 
sell poisons, that is, so far as the retailing is 
concerned. 
Time will not permit me to go so thoroughly 
into the different bearings of the subject as 
I should wish, but these few crude ideas so 
rudely put together may not be altogether 
valueless, and with this hope I forward them 
in response to your invitation. 
I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 
’A Chemist. 
Patent Medicines. 
The following letter appeared in the 
‘ Leicester Journal ’ of December 3, 1867 :— 
“ Sir,—In one of our local papers, during 
the last week, I found, amongst the police 
reports of the 19th ult., before our Borough 
magistrates, that George Smith, a shop¬ 
keeper, was convicted by them in the miti¬ 
gated penalty of £5, for a breach of the Ex¬ 
cise laws, in selling patent medicines without 
a licence. 
“ It appears that an officer of the Excise 
went into the defendant’s shop and pur¬ 
chased a penny box of antibilious pills, an 
article sold by every chemist and druggist, 
not only in the country, but by many small 
shopkeepers, through the length and breadth 
of the land. 
“ In the interest of the trade, and the 
public generally, allow me, through the 
medium of your columns, to ask our esteemed 
Towm Clerk, and the officers of Inland Re¬ 
venue the following queries:— 
“ 1st. Is a vendor of penny or twopenny 
boxes of pills required by the Patent Medi¬ 
cine Act to take out a patent medicine 
licence ? 
“ 2nd. If, according to the conviction they 
have laid against the defendant Smith, it is 
compulsory to affix to each penny box of 
pills a three-liallpenny stamp ? thus making 
a pennyworth of pills cost the consumer two- 
