jectionable preparations are those, the origin and
composition of which is not kept secret, and which are known to
serve a useful and legitimate purpose. Malted Milk is an
example. Objectionable proprietary preparations, by far the
largest group of the whole class, comprise all those which are
aimed at under the medical code of ethics under the term 'secret
nostrum,' which term may be more closely defined thus:

"A secret nostrum is a preparation, the origin or composition of
which is kept secret, the therapeutic claims for which are
unreasonable or unscientific, or which is not intended for a
legitimate purpose.

"Examples: The various 'Soothing Syrups,' 'Female Regulators,'
'Blood Purifiers,' and thousands of others."

Dr. A. Emil Hiss, Ph. G., says of the secrecy of these preparations:--

"A secret compound with a meaningless title is presumptively a
fraud. Why a secret if not to permit extravagant, or fraudulent,
claims as to therapeutic merit? * * * * * The ruling motive of
the secret being essentially false and dishonest, its employment
in the interest of any remedy is clearly a sufficient cause for
its condemnation and ostracism."

Mothers sometimes wonder why their boys take so readily to cigarettes,
or their daughters to cocaine, never thinking that the soothing syrup,
or cough mixture given freely by themselves to their children developed
a craving for something stronger later on. Mrs. Winslow's Soothing
Syrup, advertised for years in church as well as secular papers as
"invaluable for children," is cited in the report for 1888 of the
Massachusetts State Board of Health as containing opium; also Ayer's
Cherry Pectoral, Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup, Jayne's Expectorant, Hooker's
Cough and Croup Syrup, Moore's Essence of Life, Mother Bailey's Quieting
Syrup, and others too numerous to mention. The report says:--

"The sale of soothing syrups, and all medicines designed for the
use of children, which contain opium and its preparations should
be prohibited. Many would be deterred from using a preparation
known to contain opium, who would use without question a
soothing syrup recommended for teething children."

Again, on page 149 the following is quoted from a prominent physician:--

"Among infants, and in the early years of life, soothing syrups
are the cause of untold misery; for seeds are doubtlessly sown