The Law Pertaining to "Patent Medicines"
May 21, a bill pertaining to "patent medicines" and pharmaceutic compounds was accepted by the great national assembly. It was sponsored by the ministers of hygiene, justice and finance, and became a law largely as a result of their efforts. It defines "patent medicines" and pharmaceutic compounds as those proprietary products, not included in the codex, which are sold under their trade names and are so used by the medical profession. Some of them require prescriptions; while others, such as toothpastes and powders, do not require prescriptions. It does not include the following substances as "patent medicines": serums, vaccines, and microbic emulsions; biologic extracts; tonics and therapeutic soaps, and nonpoisonous hair dyes and tonics, tooth pastes and cosmetics. The manufacture of biologic products will be controlled by the government, however, and will require a license.Under its other provisions a permit will be necessary