378 
EDITORIAL. 
vile  compounds,  and  bring  to  justice  the  violators  of  law,  who  poison  public 
health  and  grow  rich  thereby.  As  these  nostrums  are  not  truly  patented, 
the  secret  of  their  preparation  being  studiously  withheld  in  defiance  of  the 
explicit  declaration  of  our  Patent  Laws,  we  would  suggest  the  passage  of  a 
law  imposing  a  heavy  penalty  for  the  sale  of  "  patented"  medicines,  when 
in  fact  they  are  not  patented,  and  allow  half  the  fine  recovered,  to  the  in- 
former. It  would  be  a  truly  philanthropic  effort,  worthy  a  Howard,  or  a 
Mrs.  Fry,  to  secure  the  community  from  this  terrible  infliction  of  the  sale 
and  use  of  "  patent "  medicines. 
"We  cannot  sufficiently  express  our  admiration  of  Mr.  Conkling's  integri- 
ty and  enlightened  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  For  several  years  he  has 
uniformly  refused  to  grant  these  applications  to  patent  labels,  from  a  con- 
scientious belief  in  the  illegality  of  such  proceedings,  and  a  conviction  of 
the  worthless  character  of  such  compounds.  During  this  time  he  has  not 
only  sacrificed  the  income  which  is  due  from  such  grants,  but  incurred  the 
odium  and  bitter  hatred  of  this  miserable  class  of  impostors.  In  behalf  of 
the  medical  profession  we  tender  our  acknowledgements  for  the  services 
Avhich  he  has  thus  rendered  directly  to  the  community  at  large,  and  indirect- 
ly to  legitimate  medicine. 
From  the  annexed  "  circular,"  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Conkling's  views 
of  the  Patent  Laws,  are  endorsed  by  the  State  Department,  and  instructions 
in  conformity  therewith  have  been  promptly  issued  by  Mr.  Secretary  Marcy. 
— Eds,  New  York  Journal  of  Medicine. 
«  Buffalo,  March,  1856. 
Dear  Sir: — Will  you  do  me  the  personal  favor  to  furnish  me  with  a  written 
statement  of  your  views  on  the  subject  of  copyrights  for  labels,  etc.,  as  expressed 
to  me  in  a  conversation  yesterday. 
Coming  from  a  gentleman  of  your  rank  and  position,  I  am  certain  that  they 
would  possess  interest ;  and  I  would  like  to  give  them  publicity  through  some  of 
our  Medical  Journals. 
Sincerely  wishing  that  the  public  had  many  more  such  faithful  servants, 
I  remain  yours  truly, 
Aurelian  Conkling,  Esq.  Frank  H.  Hamilton. 
District  Court  of  the  United  States  for^| 
the  Northern  District  of  New  York,  l 
Clerk's  Office.  J 
Buffalo,  March  18th,  1856. 
Dear  Sir: — I  am  much  obliged  for  the  interest  manifested  by  you  in  the  sub- 
ject with  which  I  lately  troubled  you  ;  and  although  it  is  probable  that  in  your 
politeness  you  over-estimate  the  importance  of  the  views  expressed  to  you,  and 
of  those  contained  in  my  letter  to  the  Hon.  S.  G.  Haven,  still  it  is  possible  that 
they  may  be  useful  to  others,  and  I  therefore  will  proceed  to  repeat  them  here, 
for  such  use  as  you  may  deem  expedient.    I  am  much  pleased  with  the  polite 
interest  you  manifest  in  "the  subject  under  consideration,  because,  I  regret  to 
say,  I  have  heretofore  experienced  very  different  treatment  from  some  persons 
who  have  found  their  way  into  your  profession,  and  who  not  only  so  far  forgot 
their  professional  obligations,  as  to  manufacture  nostrums,  but  were  also  guilty 
of  low  abuse  of  an  officer  whose  sense  of  duty  would  not  admit  of  his  being 
made  instrumental,  improperly,  in  imposing  their  mixtures  upon  the  public. 
