Wherever the drug rep goes, whether pharmacy, hospital, doctors’ offices, anywhere, he leaves a trail of little gifts prominently displaying the name of the particular pill he’s pushing. For quite some time, the coffee cup with the drug name enameled on the side was a favorite (and it’s still a perennial giveaway). Other staples are the notepads, pens, diaries, rulers, calendars clocks and even umbrellas – all bearing the name and slogan of a particular pill. In some cases more expensive items are handed out to doctors – for instance detailed ceramic heart models, or a life-sized take-apart model of a human brain may be left with a doctor as a visual aid when he or she (hopefully) prescribes the pills to patients.

Jim Hogshire, Pills-A-Go-Go (26)