The muckraking journalists of the early 20th century had much abuse to bring to light for the benefit of the American people. In 1905 Samuel Hopkins Adams published in Collier's Weekly the first expose on prescription medicines entitled "The Great American Fraud.". Describe the contents of this expose and explain how it ultimately wound up protecting consumers

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• While labels and ads for patent medicines often listed exotic
ingredients, the potions often contained opium extracts, cocaine,
grain alcohol or other unlisted drugs. Taking these potions could
result in drug addiction or even death.
• Adams exposed these facts in his expose in Colliers Weekly that
led to the passage of the first Pure Food and Drug Act the following
year. The law required that all ingredients be accurately listed on
drug labels and curbed fraudulent advertising claims.
• This full disclosure of ingredients in food and drugs, which has
remained an important consumer health protection until this day,
had its origins in Adams' important expose.