The Adamson Bill, known as the “trading with the enemy act,” has recently been passed by the House of Representatives, is now before the Senate, and will doubtless be enacted into a law. One of its clauses confers authority on the Federal Trade Commission to grant licenses to citizens of this country to operate patents owned by enemy aliens. Physicians are interested in the bill primarily because it includes the salvarsan situation. The manner in which salvarsan has been supplied in this country has been so arbitrary and the prices charged so tremendously above the actual cost, that we should not be satisfied unless the monopoly is ended so that the drug can be supplied at least at a fairly moderate figure, and the old methods eliminated. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the Federal Trade Commission will not grant exclusive control—that is, exclusive license—to any one person or firm. To do so would simply perpetuate the old monopoly and the old conditions. England has adopted a law, which, in principle, is similar to the Adamson Bill, and there several concerns have been licensed to manufacture the product. The same should be done here. The Dermatologic Research Laboratories of Philadelphia announce that they can supply arsenobenzol at $1.50 a tube, and that there is immediately available a supply sufficient for any demand that may be made. The same laboratories have announced also that in a few months they will be able to supply hospitals for $1.00 a tube. Considerable responsibility rests on the Federal Trade Commission in this matter, for it is not only a question of monopoly, but also a question of scientific qualifications and ability to make the product on the part of some who may make application. Undoubtedly the commission will secure the cooperation of the United States Public Health Service, under whose supervision these drugs should be manufactured no matter who shall be licensed to make the product.—(Editorial from The Journal A. M. A., July 21, 1917.)
Arsphenamin
No, this is not a new chemical; it is simply the name adopted by the Federal Trade Commission for the hydrochlorid of 3-diamino-4-dihydroxy-1-arsenobenzene—in other words, salvarsan. As our readers already have been informed three firms have been licensed to manufacture and sell arsphenamin; but, while each manufacturer may have his own trade name on the label, the official name must be the prominent one on all packages. Hence, physicians should at once make it a point to learn and use the name “arsphenamin” in place of salvarsan. At first sight, arsphenamin looks formidable. In reality, it is just as easy to familiarize oneself with the word “arsphenamin” as it was to learn to use the terms “salvarsan,” “arsenobenzol” or any other of the trade names.—(Editorial from The Journal A. M. A., Jan. 19, 1918.)
BEER AND CANCER CURES
Did the Brewing Interests Advertise Autolysin?
Our readers may remember that an article appeared in this department of The Journal for July 6, 1918, under the title “Henry Smith Williams and ‘Proteal Therapy.’ ” “Proteal Therapy” is a treatment exploited by Henry Smith Williams, M.D., of New York, for use in tuberculosis, cancer, rheumatism, etc. It is apparently a modification of the “Autolysin” cancer “cure” which Williams had previously puffed in Heart’s Magazine.
The Journal’s article pointed out that Henry Smith Williams, although entitled to write “M.D.” after his name, is essentially a journalist. He has written voluminously for some years in lay publications on various subjects, both under his own name and under his nom de plume, “Stoddard Goodhue, M.D.” In addition, Williams runs a publishing concern called the Goodhue Company, which issues a number of books, many of them being reprints of Williams’ own articles.
Closely associated with Henry Smith Williams is his brother, Edward Huntington Williams, who also is a prolific writer. The Journal’s previous article called attention to the fact that there had been sent broadcast to physicians a neat little cloth-bound book, entitled, “Alcohol, Hygiene and Legislation.” This book, which evidently cost somebody a good deal of money to distribute gratis, was published by the Goodhue Company, and was written by Edward Huntington Williams. Enclosed with the book was an advertising leaflet on the “Autolysin” cancer cure and also a letter from the Goodhue Company, asking physicians to accept it “with our compliments and the compliments of the author.” The letter was chiefly devoted to calling attention to Henry Smith Williams’ “new book, the Autolysin Treatment of Cancer.” The last thirteen pages of the book “Alcohol, Hygiene and Legislation” contained advertisements of the Goodhue Company’s publications, particular emphasis being placed on the “Autolysin Treatment of Cancer,” by Henry Smith Williams.
So much by way of retrospect. Now comes information that may throw an interesting side-light on the matter just presented. There is at present being conducted by a committee of the United States Senate, an investigation relative to the purchase of a Washington (D. C.) newspaper with money alleged to have been furnished by those interested in the brewing industry.