Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-08-23
ARE PHYSICIANS PRESCRIPTIONS
NOSTRUMS9

hint even that physicians prescrip
tons are in any manner related Il
nostrums; nevertheless, an impartia
examination of all the facts In the
case leads irresistibly to the conclu
, sion that every medicinal preparation
compounded and dispensed by a physi.
clan is. In the strict sense OF the word,
nostrum, and that the average,
ready-prepared proprietary remedy is
superior to the average specially-pre-
pared physicians prescription.
What Is a nostrum? According to
the Standard Dictionary q nostrum is
IA medicine the composition OF which
is kept secret" Now, when physi-
clan compounds and dispenses with
his own hands a remedy for the treat
ment OF disease-and it is authorita-
lively stated that probably so per
cent. OF all physicians prescriptions
In this country are so dispensed-th
names and quantities Of the ingre-
dents which constitute the remedy
are not made known to the patient
Hence, since its composition is kept a
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 a
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 a physician has made a
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. a physi-
clan who compounds his own prescrlp- |
lions 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
Of ignorant physicians.
Nor can 1t 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 1t should be. 1t is only when the
physician is required to originate
formula on the spur of the moment
that his incompetency is distinctly evil
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 Medica
and Pharmacy, Edinburgh, lamenting
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--the :
that is compounded and
dispensed by the Pharmacists it.
TOO, nostrum? 1t may be contended }
hat the patient. with the written !
formula in his possession. may learn |
he character of the remedy pre- =
icribed SO. possibly. he might If he h
Understood Latin and were a physician :
" pharmacist. hut as he usually pos ,
esses no professional training and +
annot read Latin, the prescription is !,
practically a dead secret to him. =
the average prescription !,
5 so badly written and so greatly :,
bbreviated that even the pharmacist, r
killed as he usually is in deciphering :
MEDICAL hieroglyphs. is constantly =
biged TO interview prescribers to a
nd out what actually has been pre-
cribed. IL may also be commended,
nat inasmuch as the formula Is known
} both physician and pharmacist the
cannot therefore be a Sc T
ret. But with equal truth it might be
that the formula of any so
illed nostrum is not a secret since 1t
known TO both proprietor and manu- &C
for 1t must not be forgotten &C
lat according to reliable authority. sc
per cent of the proprietors of So W,
Illed patent medicines prepared In H
is country have their remedies made te
r them by large, reputable manufac- A
ring pharmacists. But even should 60
patient be able to recognize the in
ines of the ingredients mentioned in DO
formula he would only know half no
e story. 1t Is seldom. for instance. alb
at alcohol is specifically mentioned KIN
a prescription, for II is usually of
asked in the form of tinctures and at
i'd extracts. as are great many hi:
her substances. 1t Is evident, there is
re-. that the ordinary formulated pre- | {
riptlon is. to the average patient, lit in
less than a secret remedy or nos kir
I'm. da,
On the other hand. the formulate Of otl
arly all the proprietary medicines try
1t are exploited exclusively to the is
,dical profession as well as those wo
a. rrr.. r,e~oarf,o. - ft. r.-cv~fa-