The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-31


hlut even that physicians preserip-
tlons are Ia any manner 9alated to
nostrums; nevertheless. an impartial /
examination Of all she facts Ia the
case leads irresistibiy TO the conolu-
slon that every medicinal preparation |
compounded and dispensed by a physl-
clan is, ii the strict sense Of the word,
nostf7m. and that the average,
ready.prepared proprietary remedy y
superior TO the average specially.pre-
pared physicians prescription.
What Is a nostrum2 According 70
the STANDARD Dictionary nostrum is
"a medicine the composition Of which
ia kent q secret Now, when o physl-
clan compounds and dlspenses with
his own hands a remedy for the treat
ment og a disease and 1t ls authorIta-
lively stated that probably go per
cent. Of all physicians prescriptions
III this country are 80 dlspensed-the
names and quantities Of the ingre-
dents which constitute the remedy
ara not made known to tho patient.
Hence, since It's composition is kept q
secret by the physician, the remedy or
prescription il unquestIonably, In the
true meaning Of the word, Simon
pnre nostrum. Furthermore, the pre-
scrlption compounded by the average
physician Is more than likely 70 be
perfect jumble--replete with thera'
peutlc, physiologlc and chemical in
compatlblltles and bearing all the ear
marks of pharmaceutical incompe-
tency: for Il Is now generally admitted
that unless a physician has made
special Study of pharmacy and passed
some time In drug store for the pur-
pose Of gaining a practical knowledge
81 modern pharmaceutical methods,
he Is not fitted TO compound remedies
for hts patients. Moreover, physl.
clan who compounds his own prescrip-
tions not only deprives the pharmacist
of his lust emoluments, but he endan-
gers the lives OF patients; for It Is
only by the detection and elimination
OF errors In prescriptions by clever,
competent prescriptlonists that the
safety OF the public can be effectually
shielded from the criminal blunders
OF ignorant physicians.
Nor can 1t be said that the average
physician is any more competent to
formulate prescription than he Is TO
compound 1t. When memorized or d.
rectiy copied from a book Of 'fayorte
prescriptions by famous physicians,
or from some textbook or medical
Journal the prescription may be all
that IL should be. II Is only when the
physician il required to originate q
formula on the spur Of the moment
that his incompetency Is distinctly cyl
dent. Seemingly. however, the physl
clans Of the United States are littl'
worse than the average British physl
3 clan: for we find Dr. James Burnett
t lecturer on Practical Materla Medlcl
j. and Pharmacy. Edinburgh, lamentlnl
0 in the Medical Magazine the passinl
1 Of the prescription and hemoaning tn
fact that seldom does he find "fina
man" able to devise a prescription
eyca In good contracted Latin
I, And what. It may be asked, is tn
status OF the written prescription-th
prescription that Is compounded an
q dispensed by the Pharmacists I
't too. nostrumq It may be contende
r that the patient, with the write
E. formula in his possession, may lear
Is the character Of the remedy pr
d scrlbbd. So. possibly. he might II b
! understood Latin and were physical
!, or a pharmacist. but as he usually po
S sesses no professional training m
cannot read Latin, the prescription
= practically q dead secret TO nh
u Furthermore, the average prescripue
ID Is so badly written and so great
Is abbreviated that even the pharmaol'
le skilled as he usually is in deeipheriI
3. medical hleroglyphs, is constant
"A Obliged 70 interview prescrlhers
:, hnd out what actually has been pE
= scrlhed. It may also be contende
= that inasmuch as the formula IS know
70 to both physician and pharmacist &
ne prescription cannot therefore be a
a. cret. But with equal truth It might
contended that the formula Of any
called noslrum is not secret since
be Is known to both proprietor and mar
By facturer: for It must not be forgott
nv that according to reliable authori
he o5 per cent. OF the proprietors OF
- called patent medicines prepared
this country have their remedies ma
fer shesf by large. reputable manuf
no turing pharmaeistu. But even shot
est natlent be ablo to recognize
I'D, names Of the ingredients mentioned
for a formula ne would only know h
aer the story. It IS seldom, for instan
ne that alcohol Is specifically mentor
ar. in a prescription. FOR Z & usua
- masked in the form Of tinctures
-. anld extracts. IS are great ms
other substances Il is evident, the
- fore. that the ordinary formulated
rcription is, to the average patient,
tie less than a secret remedy Or
y" trnm.
as on the other hand. the formulae
be nearly al the proprietary mediei
cid that are exploited exclusively to
ped medical profession as well as III
,ple of 4 large percentage Of the prop
,..v r,maaia4 that are advertised