Final answer:
In the early 1900s, there was a distinction between prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. Prescription drugs required a doctor's prescription, while over-the-counter drugs could be purchased without a prescription.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the early 1900s, there was a distinction between prescription (Rx) drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Prescription drugs required a doctor's prescription, while over-the-counter drugs could be purchased without a prescription. The regulation of drugs in the United States was not established until the formation of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1906. Before the FDA, many medicines, including potentially harmful ones, were available over-the-counter.