Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Pharmaceuticals, Medical Treatment, Government, Political Economy, Morality

    Argues that the consumption of patent medicines is as 'pernicious' as alcohol and should be heavily taxed by a 'Medicine Pledge'. Observes that the amount of duty paid on patent medicines during the previous year was over ten times more than that remitted as 'conscience money'. Concludes from this that the nation prefers medicines to conscience, and that the English lead such virtuous, exemplary lives that they do not consider that they have to pay for their consciences.