The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-09-28
ARE PHYsiclANs' PRESCRIPTIONS
NosTRUMsf

between PHYSICIANS pIeSCTlp<iouSs ptV
prietary medicines and nostrums, 1t
may seem little short Of crime to
hint even that physicians prescrip-
lions are in any manner related to
nostrums; nevertheless, an impartial
examination of all the facts in the
case leads irresistibly to the conclu-
sion that every medicinal preparation
compounded and dispensed by physi-
clan IL, In the strict sense of the word,
q nostrum, and that the average.
ready-prepared proprietary remedy IL
superior to the average specially-pre-
pared physicians prescription.
What Is q nostrum? According to
the Standard Dictionary nostrum Is
- medicine the composition of which
is kept a secret" Now, when q physi-
clan compounds and dispenses with
his own hands a remedy for the treat
ment of disease-and 1t Is authorita-
lively stated that probably so per
cent. Of all physicians prescriptions
in this country are SO dispensed-the
names and QuantitieS of the ingre-
dents which constitute the remedy
are not made known to the patient.
Hence, since its composition Is kept
secret by the physician, the remedy or
prescription Is unQuestionably, in the
true meaning of the word, Simon
pure nostrum. Furthermore, the pre-
scription compounded by the average
physician is more than likely to be q
perfect jumble-replete with thera-
peutic, physiologic and chemical in
compatibilities and bearing all the ear
marks of pharmaceutical incompe-
tency; for it is now generally admitted
that unless q physician has made q
special study of pharmacy and passed
some time in drug store for the pur-
pose of gaining practical knowledge
of modern pharmaceutical methods.
he Is not fitted to compound remedies
| for his patients. Moreover, physi-
| clan who compounds his own prescrip-
tons not only deprives the pharmacist
| of his just emoluments. but he endan-
| gers the lives of patients; for 1t is
only by the detection and elimination
of errors in prescriptions by clever.
competent prescriptionists that the
safety of the public can be effectually
shielded from the criminal blunders
of ignorant physicians.
Nor can it be said that the average
physician is any more competent to
formulate prescription than he is to
compound it. When memorized or d.
rectly copied from book Of "favorite
prescriptions by famous physicians. /"
or from some textbook or medical
journal, the prescription may be all
that it should be. 1t IL only when the
physician is required to originate q
formula on the spur of the moment
that his incompetency is distinctly evi.
dent Seemingly, however. the physi'
clans of the United States are little
worse than the average British physi
clan: for we find DR.. James Burnett
lecturer on Practical Materia Nedica
and Pharmacy, Edinburgh, lamentine
In the Medical Magazine the passing
of the prescription and bemoaning the
fact that seldom does he find ''final
man" able to devise prescription
even in good contracted Latin"
And what, It may be asked. Is the
status of the written prescription-tht
prescription that is compounded and
dispensed by the Pharmacists it
too. nostrum? 1t may be contendet
that the patient. with the written
formula in his possession, may Learn
the character of the remedy pre-
scribed. So. possibly, he might II ht
understood Latin and were q physician
or pharmacist. but as he usually pos
sesses no professional training and
cannot read Latin, the prescription Il
practically q dead secret to him
Furthermore, the average prescription
is SO badly written and SO greatly
abbreviated that even the pharmacist
skilled as he usually Is in decipherint
medical hieroglyphs. is CONSTANT,
obliged to interview prescribers t.
. find out what actually has been pre-
scribed. It may also be contended
that inasmuch as the formula Is kpowr
to both physician and pharmacist thu
prescription cannot therefore be Sc
cret. But with equal truth 1t might b.
cOnteuueu tudt tuC AotHAuso VI oAJ -
called nostrum is not a secret since !
Is known to both proprietor and manu-
facturer; for it must not be forgotten
that, according to reliable authority
: IS per cent. of the proprietors OF 90
called patent medicines prepared u
|. this country have their remedies mad
for them by large. reputable manufae
turing pharmacists. But even shoul'
!. a patient be able to recognize tn
!. names of the ingredients mentioned L
! formula he would only know hal
the story. 1t is seldom, for instance
that alcohol Is specifically mentione
In O prescription, for 1t is usual
Y masked In the form Of tinctures an
3 nuid extracts. as are q great man
other substances. 1t Is evident, there