The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1907-08-30
ana PHVsiciANs' PRESCRIPTIONS
NosTRUMsf

may seem little short OF a crime 10
hint even that physicians prescrip-
tions are In any manner related to
n0strums: nevertheless. an impartial
examination Of all the facts In the
case leadE irroslstibly 10 the conclu-
sion that every medicinal preparation
compounded and dispensed by physi.
clan Is. IA the strict sense Of the word.
a nostrum. and that the average.
readyprepared proprietary remedy Is
superior 20 the average speclally-pre-
pared physicians prescription.
What r. a nostrumg According 70
the Standard Dictionary a nostrum 10
"A medicine the composition OF which
IA kept a secret" Now. when a physi-
clan compounds and dispenses with
bis own hands a remedy for the treat
ment Of n disoase--and Il is authorita-
lively stated that probably GO per
cent. OF all physicians prescriptions
In this country are so dlspensed-ths
names and quantities OF the ingre-
dents which constitute the remedy
arc not made known TO the patient.
Hence. since Us composition is kept a
secret By the physician. the remedy or
prescription II unquestiOnably. In the
true meaning OF tho word. a Simon
pure nostrum. Furthermore. the pre-
scriptlon compounded by the average
physician Is more than likely to be
perfect jumble-replete with thera-
peutic. physiologic and chemical IN
compatibillties and bearing all the ear
marks OF pharmaceutical incompe-
tenry: for Il Is now generally admitted
that unless q physician has made a
special study Of pharmacy and passed
some time In a drug store for the pur.
pose OF gaining a practical knowledge
% modern pharmaceutical methods,
he Il not fitted 20 compound remedies
for his patients. Moreover. a physi-
clan who compounds his own prescrip-
tons not only dopriyes the pharmacist
Of his just emoluments. but he endan-
gers the lives OF patients. for Il Is
only by the detection aud elimination
Of errors In prescriptions by clever.
competent prescrlptionlsts that the
safety % the public can be enectually
shielded from the criminal blunders
Of ignorant physicians.
Nor can Il be said that the average
physician IL any more competent 10
formulate a prescription than he Is TO
compound a. When memorized or a.
rcctly copied from a book OF "favorite
/ prescriptions by famous physicians"
or from some textbook or medical
Journal. the prescription may be all
that Il should be. Il Is only when the
physician Is required 20 originate a
formula on the lpur % the moment
that his incompetency Il distinctly evil
dent Seemingly. however. the physi-
clans Of the United States are little
worse than the average British physi.
clan, for Ne find Dr. James Burnett.
lecturer on Practical Materia Medlca
and Pharmacy. Edinburgh. lamenting
IN the Medical Magazine the passing
% the prescription and bemoanlng tho
fact that seldom does he find a final
man" able 90 devise a prescription
even IN good contracted Latia."
And what. Il may be asked. Is the
status Of the written prescription-the
prescription that Is compounded and
dispensed by the Pharmacists Il,
too. a nostrum? II may be contended
that the patient. with the written
formula in his possession. may learn
the character OF the remedy pre-
scrlbod. SO. possibly. he might n he
understood Latin and we're a physician
or a pharmacist. but as he usually pos
sesses no professional training and
cannot read Latin. the prescription Is
practically a dead secret 20 him.
Furthermore. the average prescription
Is 30 badly written and 90 greatly
abbreviated that even the pharmacist,
skilled as he usually 10 In deciphering
medical hioroglyphs. Is constantly
Obliged TO interview prescribers 10
find out what actually has been pre-
scTibed. IL may also be contended,
that inRsmuch as the formula Is known
10 both physician and pharmacist the
prescription cannot therefore be a Sc
cret. But with equal truth Il might be
contcnded that the formula OF any so
called nostrum Is not a secret since Il
a. known 20 both proprietor and manu-
facturer: for IL must not be forgotten
that. according 20 reliable authority
o. per cent Of the proprietors Of so
called patent medicines prepared In
this country have their remedies made
for them by large. reputable manufAe-
turing pharmacists. But even should
patient be able 20 recognize the
names OF the ingredients mentioned In
a formula he would only know half
the story. II Is seldom. for Instance.
that alcohol Is specifically mentioned
In a prescription. for Il Is usually
masked In the form OF tinctures and
fluid extracts. as are a great many
other substances. Il Is evident. there
fore. that the ordinary formulated pre-
scription Is. 10 the average patient IL
tie less than a secret remedy or nos
trum.
on the other hand. the formulate OF
nearly all tho proprietary medicines
that are exploited exclusively 70 tho
/ -. Ill