282  Drugs  and  Druggist  in  Tuberculosis.  {Am'j^uer'i909arm' 
states  that  even  in  the  case  of  coughs  of  obscure  origin,  especially 
those  ascribed  to  colds,  he  treats  them  as  if  he  were  dealing  with 
incipient  cases  of  tuberculosis.  It  is  true  that  in  some  cases  the 
patient  is  able  to  overcome  the  disease  by  attention  to  his  general 
health,  but  again  I  would  emphasize  that  the  responsibility  is  too 
great  for  the  druggist  to  make  any  attempt  at  its  treatment,  and 
for  the  sake  of  the  general  community  as  well  as  the  patient  him- 
self he  should  be  strongly  advised  to  consult  a  physician  or  to  go 
to  a  dispensary.  Here  is  where  the  druggist  can  render  a  great 
amount  of  assistance  to  the  patient  as  well  as  to  the  community. 
It  is  probably  true  that  the  majority  of  persons  having  tuberculosis 
go  to  the  druggist  in  the  early  stages  of  the  disease  for  cough 
medicines  and  simple  remedies,  and  probably  for  advice.  Thus  it 
follows  that  the  druggist  has  an  opportunity  for  properly  directing 
this  class  of  persons,  and  he  should  fully  realize  the  responsibility 
which  rests  upon  him. 
There  is  another  phase  of  this  question  upon  which  the  drug- 
gist should  take  a-  positive  stand,  namely,  in  his  opposition  to  the 
sale  and  use  of  patent  medicines  which  are  advised  as  cures  for 
tuberculosis.  In  some  cases  they  may  be  harmful ;  in  other  cases 
they  may  be  harmless,  but  at  any  rate  they  require  the  patient's 
money  and  delay  proper  treatment  in  the  early  stages  of  the  disease 
when,  if  ever,  a  cure  can  be  effected,  and  in  this  way  are  decidedly 
harmful  and  therefore  should  be  condemned  by  the  druggist.  This 
is  the  responsibility  which  he  should  assume. 
This  question  is  of  so  much  moment  that  last  year  the  Committee 
on  the  Prevention  of  Tuberculosis  of  the  Charity  Organization 
Society  of  the  City  of  New  York  passed  the  following  resolution: 
"Whereas,  In  our  opinion  there  is  no  specific  medicine  for 
this  disease  known  and  the  so-called  cures  and  specifics  and  special 
methods  of  treatment  (by  electricity,  X-rays,  electric  light  treat- 
ment, "diet"  cures,  plasters,  serums,  etc.)  widely  advertised  in 
the  daily  papers  are,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  without  value 
and  do  not  at  all  justify  the  extravagant  claims  made  for  them, 
and  serve  chiefly  to  enrich  their  promoters  at  the  expense  of  the 
poor  and  frequently  ignorant  or  credulous  person  suffering  from 
tuberculosis ;  therefore, 
"Resolved,  That  a  public  announcement  be  made  that  it  is  the 
unanimous  opinion  of  the  members  of  this  Committee  that  there 
