Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Patent medicine/archive1

Patent medicine
Self-nomination. Been on Peer review several weeks, and it seems to me to be interesting, readable, and as complete as I know to make it. &mdash; Smerdis of Tlön 21:31, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC)


 * Support. Very nice work. Minor objection. Looks pretty good overall. I've made some copyedits to fix most of the issues I saw, but one more requires someone with sources in hand. The coverage of Snake oil is one short and somewhat stilted paragraph. The term "snake oil" is arguably more common than that of patent medicine, and "snake oil salesmen" has become synonymous with any unscrupulous sales person. It could be different in Europe, but this is certainly the case in the US. So that coverage and information should be expanded. - Taxman 23:00, Dec 2, 2004 (UTC) 	+
 * I mentioned snake oil in the lead, and tied it to the point made below at greater length that the promoters talked up exotic ingredients that really didn't do much. -- Smerdis of Tlön 01:37, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * Support. Good pictures, well-researched and good references. Sayeth 20:02, Dec 4, 2004 (UTC)
 * Object. Extremely US-centric. No mention of modern trade in similar medicines in Asia (that also has long history); goanna oil in Australia (along with other goods tarded amongst miners, settlers and Aborigines), or much of cure-alls sold in England, of which there were several (if not many). If it weren't for this, it would be great.--ZayZayEM 01:41, 5 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * I always thought it was a purely American term. Then isn't that acceptable for it to be US-centric?  The same issue in other contries could be covered elsewhere? Not sure, just thinking. - Taxman 13:32, Dec 5, 2004 (UTC)
 * I've never seen the term used outside American literature. Johnleemk | Talk 13:54, 5 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * How much non-American literature have you read on the subject? I was reading an English book on Pox, Plague, and Pestilence last year, it spoke quite a lot about panaceas paraded in England and Europe in the same eras (and before). Including treatments for siphilis, fish oils and gypsy herb mixes of the mediteranean. Nostrum is certainly an applicable term for those, along with traditional Asian herbal medicines and rhino horn etc., and similar anti-curse, anti-pox, anti-vampire medicines available in Africa (which probably partly inspired the American phenomenon through Hoodoo), as well as a copy of teh American phenomenon that occured in Australia amongst settlers (inspired by both American trends, and Aboriginal medicines). That it doesn't even consider the similarities between Patent Medicine and similar historical phenomenon is the reason why I don't think it should be featured. Perhaps nostrum should be seperated into a seperate article. It also doesn't mention modern hokey "cure for cancer/HIV/Diabetes" wonder-drug/vitamin "scams" that have occured of late.--ZayZayEM 03:59, 6 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * You do bring up a number of good points. I seem to remember some passages in Sterne that discussed eighteenth century patent medicines in England, and they probably do need to be looked up and added.  Will try and track down this book if it can be had this side of the Atlantic.  Some note should probably be taken of the contemporary "nutritional supplement" mess.  Not sure if all traditional remedies or East Asian medical practices are quite the same thing, though.  -- Smerdis of Tlön 03:08, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)
 * I do understand that patent medicine is not the same as traditional medicine I just feel its odd that a lot of these aren't even mentioned. Traditional/holistic medicine is the inspiration/target of modern 20/21st century patent medicines (e.g. those multivitamin pyramid schemes). European and Australian patent medicine definitely falls under the scope of this particular article ("Patent" being more of a Western thing). I'll try and get that book out again next time I'm near campus.--ZayZayEM 13:06, 7 Dec 2004 (UTC)