nst
fraudulent medical advertising. Also to seek legislation which shall
hinder such advertising.

5. To endeavor to win the attention of physicians who prescribe
alcoholic liquors to the teachings of great leaders in their profession
who have abandoned such practice.

6. To bring to the attention of nurses the same teachings, and to seek
their co-operation in education against the self-prescription of
alcohol.

7. To work for legislation which shall correct the evils of the whisky
drug-store, the whisky-prescribing doctor, and the dangerous "patent"
medicine.

8. To gather the opinions upon alcohol of well-known physicians who do
not use it, and publish them.

This department originated the public agitation against injurious and
fraudulent "patent" medicines which later was so ably carried on by
_Collier's Weekly_, and the _Ladies' Home Journal_. That its early work
in this direction was not better known to the general public was due to
the fact that religious as well as secular papers were reaping large
revenues from the advertising of these nostrums, and consequently
refused to publish anything which might injure the trade. Indeed, in
accepting some of this advertising, newspaper managers had to sign a
contract that they would not publish any reading matter opposed to the
nostrum business.

The _Christian Advocate_ of New York city deserves special mention for
having published in 1898 two articles written by Mrs. Allen under the
caption, "The Danger and Harmfulness of Patent Medicines." These were in
the fall of that year published in pamphlet form, and a copy sent to
every local W. C. T. U. in the United States for study. Tens of
thousands of copies of this and other leaflets on that theme were
distributed within a few years, some local unions placing them in every
home in their community. Medical journals took note of this work and
commended it highly. When Mr. Bok began his campaign of education in the
_Ladies' Home Journal_, for which he deserves lasting gratitude, the
_American Druggist_ said he was "bowing to the clamor of the W. C. T.
U."

This department which began in weakness, and was for years regarded as
fanatical even by many members of the W. C. T. U. has entered upon an
era of victories. The National Pure Food Law requires the percentage of
alcohol in patent medicines, and the presence of different dangerous
drugs, to be stated upon the label. The prohibition law of Georgia
forbids physician