§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Minister of Health whether he can state the amount which is spent each year on patent medicines; and whether he can make any statement as to their effect on the health of the people?
§ Mr. ElliotThe Select Committee on Medicine Stamp Duties estimated the annual turnover of the patent medicine trade at about £20,000,000. It would be difficult to make any general statement as to the effect of these medicines on the health of the people since so much depends on the nature of the individual medicine and the circumstances in which it is taken.