Report as to the practice of medicine and surgery by unqualified persons in the United Kingdom.

  • Great Britain. Local Government Board.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report as to the practice of medicine and surgery by unqualified persons in the United Kingdom. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    13/92 (page 11)
    (b) Effects on Fablic Health. Treatment by Cliristian Science ap])eals mo.st strongly to the sentiments of deeply religious people to whom surgical interference is repugnant. Some of the Medical Officers oi Health who refer to it condemn it in strong terms. The etfects they refer to, however, are only on individuals, and not on the public health as such. Malignant and other serious diseases are treated by Christian Science, and the effect in serious cases is too obvious to need emphasis. PROPRIETARY MEDICINES. (a^ Extent of Use of Proprietary Medicines. The replies reveal that the use of proprietary medicines by the public is extremely widespread throughout the whole country. Not only are they largely purchased by the poorer classes, and consumed in enormons quantities, but the well-to-do have recourse to them in a large measure. It is stated that chemists recommend proprietary medicines very extensively, and the large quantities of these proprietary drugs that have been placed upon the market during recent years have materially aided them in acting as unqualified practitioners. They are also sold by grocers and at the stores of Co-operative Societies, and one Medical Officer of Health says that almost every little sweetshop in his district sells headache powders. The part that advertisements of these nostrums plays in deceiving the public as to their efficiency is adversely commented on. These advertise- ments, appearing not only in the daily press, but in religious and other papers and magazines, are often supported by persons representing themselves to be qualified to give medical and surgical advice, a fact which naturally acts as a recommendation to the public and promotes their sale. Some of them have a world-wide reputation ; others have a local notoriety only,—the latter being prepared by some local chemist or manufacturer. Others again obtain a ready sale through the agency of the itinerant street corner or market quack, who claims for his nostrum healing properties of a very extensive nature. One or two Medical Officers of Health have alleged that the Revenue Label affixed to proprietary medicines is responsible for the deception of many people as to the value of their contents. Foy instance, one officer states that many uneducated and under-educated persons believe (in spite of the statement that This stamp implies no Government Guarantee ) that they are issued with Government sanction and approval. He adds that the raising of revenue by these means is, from the medical standpoint, much to be deprecated. The facility with which proprietary medicines can be obtained and indiscriminately used by the public is strongly condemned. Many of them contain powerful poisons, and preparations of such drugs as strychnia and digitalis are readily obtainable.