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.

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    great variety of diseases. He points out that similar symptoms are produced by very ditteront diseases, and adds Wiiile tins state of thing's exists, a great deal of the woi-kdone fortius health of eom- munities is counteracted. In the end the vendors of these articles are as much unqualified practitioners as a person who is not in possession of a recognised medical qualification, and as dangerous. Proprietary medicines and powders are often given to infants and young children, and this practice is strongly condemned as harmful. Cough mixtures, soothing syrups, and teething powders, adminis- tered to infants &c., for quieting purposes, and often containing opium, are particularly mentioned. A Medical Officer of Health reports that several cases of narcotic poisoning in children from teething powders have occurred. Some Medical Officers of Health ]3oint out that the use of such drugs has an important bearing on the question of infant mortality. Notwithstanding that some Medical Officers of Health have stated that it is difficult to prove actual harm through taking the medicines (although they are often such as would on no account be prescribed by a qualified medical man), several instances of actual harm have been adduced. Two of these may suffice here, out of the numerous cases which have been collected. Both have reference to a well known brand of kidney pills. 1. One Medical Officer of Health reports that on three separate occasions during the last year he has treated cases of supposed scarlet fever, in which the rash and symptoms were found to be due to the action of these pills. 2. The second case is contained in a newspaper report sent up by a Medical Officer of Health, of an inquest on a man who died from renal trouble, who had been taking these pills. The evidence produced at the inquest shewed that during the four weeks previous to his death the man had taken six boxes of the pills, each containing 40. (The direction on the box reads One to three pills four times a day, and at bed time,) and the doctor who had been called in just prior to death was of opinion that the disease which had caused death had been aggravated by the excessive use of patent pills and the want of proper medical treatment. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with this evidence. The following are some of the suggestions made by medical officers of health as to Proprietary Medicines and Infant Foods :— 1. The composition of all advertised remedies should be stated. 2. Their prescription and analysis should be determined by Government Analysis, at the vendor's expense. 3. The sale of headache powders and such like drugs should be prohibited. 4. Tlic sale of infants' foods should be regulated.