Patent medicine
Patent medicine
Patent medicine, also known as nostrum (from the Latin nostrum remedium, or "our remedy"), is a commercial product advertised (usually heavily) as a purported over-the-counter medicine, without regard to its effectiveness.
Pronunciation
- Patent: /ˈpeɪtənt/
- Medicine: /ˈmɛdɪsɪn/
Etymology
The term "patent medicine" comes from the late 17th century marketing of medical elixirs, when those who found favour with royalty were issued patents to advertise their wares. The term "nostrum" is derived from the Latin "nostrum remedium" meaning "our remedy".
Related Terms
- Quackery: The promotion of fraudulent or ignorant medical practices.
- Snake oil: A product, policy, etc. of little real worth or value that is promoted as the solution to a problem.
- Elixir: A clear, sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes, to be taken orally and intended to cure one's ills.
- Placebo: A harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect.
History
Patent medicines were very popular from the 17th to the 20th century, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were sold with colorful and extravagant marketing, often with unproven claims about their effects. Many patent medicines contained alcohol, opium, and other addictive substances. In the early 20th century, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in the United States, which required labeling of ingredients and ended the era of patent medicines.
Criticism
Critics of patent medicines have often characterized them as being of dubious effectiveness and potentially harmful. The ingredients were often not listed, and if they were, they were often misleading. The use of alcohol and opium in many of these medicines led to widespread addiction problems.
Regulation
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating medicines, including patent medicines. The FDA requires that all medicines be safe and effective, and that their benefits outweigh their risks.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Patent medicine
- Wikipedia's article - Patent medicine
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