[Advertisements in newspapers and magazines about patent medicines in the Meiji era (The first dissertation) (Part 2)].

On January 20th of the 10th year of the Meiji era (1877) the government enforced the laws regulating patent medicines. Since then patent medicines were frequently attacked in the newspapers. Abuses of patent medicines became the target of criticism. Yukichi Fukuzawa had carried his comments against abusing patent medicines in "Minkanzasshi" for 4 days from March 24th in the 11th year of the Meiji era. Abuses of patent medicines prevented medical science from progressing. He pointed out the responsibility of newspapers which printed advertisement of ineffective patent medicines. "The kanayomi" which was a small newspaper company refuted his comments. Jihei Morita published the magazine "Houtan" in person, and he ran many advertisements about patent medicines. In October in the 15th year of the Meiji era, the law, which imposed a tax on patent medicines was enacted. In addition to the censure against patent medicines were an account in the newspaper successively. However, at the same time, these accounts had serious consequences the traders of medicine and they went to law by the reason which they led to serious interference with their business.