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The Apothecaries' Act of 1815Author(s): TruthSource: Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (1844-1852), Vol. 15, No. 5 (Mar. 5, 1851), pp.138-139Published by: BMJStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25492885 .

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138 CORRESPONDENCE.?THE APOTHECARIES' ACT.

On examination of the parts the rent was found to

be a little above the verge of the anus, but the con

traction of the rectum had reduced it to a mere fissure.

No treatment was required beyond cleanliness.?Edin.

Monthly Journal, January 1851.

TOXICOLOGY.

Case of Arsenical Paralysis.?By Dr. Cort?n.

This is a case resembling those published by Sir C.

Hastings, for which reason, together with the compara

tive rarity of their occurrence, we insert the subjoined account :?

Charles Wilson, 41, Swede seaman, was admitted

into hospital, December 1st, 1849. He states that,

-accidentally, about five months ago, he swallowed some

arsenic, which had been laid aside for the purpose of

killing rats ; that remedies were promptly used, which

counteracted the primary effects of the poison; felt

perfectly well for seven days afterwards, wras then

attacked at night with a violent cramp in the index

finger of the right hand, successively invading the

other fingers, and lastly the thumb, then attacking the

other hand in the same manner, and finally the feet, the pain in the hands subsiding as the feet became

affected ; that the whole duration of cramp was about

thirty minutes, after which he fell into a sound sleep, which continued until morning ; that when he awoke he

felt free from pain, but on attempting to rise, was

surprised to find that he had lost the use of the affected

parts, and was in fact perfectly helpless ; and that this

paralysis has continued unchanged to the present time,

accompanied with a feeling of heat and numbness, which

invaded the upper extremities, from the tips of the fingers to a point about three inches below the elbow, and the

legs, from the toes to a point a little below the knee. Has

also had lancinating pains in these parts, regularly

commencing about five p.m., and continuing until

midnight.

Now, paralysis and nocturnal pains continue as above

stated. He can neither feed himself, nor stand alone

when placed upon his feet. Has dryness in his throat, and great thirst. Nothing remarkable about his general

aspect or symptoms. He had been subjected to a

variety of treatment before admission. Has been mer

curialized, and taken iodide of potassium. Anodynes, warm baths, good diet, were prescribed.

July 14th.?Has used for a time sulphate of quinine.

Strychnine, in ordinary doses, and electricity, were

persevered in for a considerable time. He has slowly and pretty steadily improved. About January 7th he

first began to walk with a shuffling, unsteady gait; he soon after could use his hands in feeding himself.

Now he can walk quite well, grasps the hand with some

firmness, but cannot yet button his own clothing. Has

had no pain for some time, save in the approach of

stormy weather, when peculiar painful sensations are

perceived in his fingers. On January 10th his urine

was found to contain arsenic, but in May all traces of

the poison had disappeared. He was discharged relieved

in July.?New York Journal of Medicine.

mwp?tnn.

THE APOTHECARIES' ACT OF 1815.

To the Editors of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.

Gentlemen,?Although I most cordially agree with

your respected correspondent, Mr. Bree, in his remarks

on the degrading and pseudo-dishonest practice of

charging patients for medicine a sum which is properly due for time and skill, I must beg to be allowed to

point out an error or two which, in common with many

others, he has fallen into, respecting the Apothecaries' Act, and the administrators of that act. Mr. Bree

speaks of the Act of 1815, as tending to perpetuate the

union of the science of medicine " with a trading cor

poration." He says that,?"By the Act of 1815 the

licence to practise the art and mystery of medicine

could only be obtained by passing an examination before a board selected from a trading corporation." And,

further, he asserts that,?"By that act the principle of charging for medicine wras legalized ; and the practice of the great body of general practitioners since that day, has been to charge a certain sum for the medicines

taken by their patients," &c. He further alleges that

the expediency of charging for medicine was created by a "legislative blunder." In all these statements Mr.

Bree echoes the belief of the junior members of the

profession generally, and it is because the belief is

general that I take the liberty of saying that the pre

vailing impression on all these points is erroneous.

1. The Society of Apothecaries is not " a trading

corporation." There does exist, it is true, a joint stock

company, dealing in drugs, the shares of which are only to be purchased by the members of the Society of

Apothecaries in actual practice; but the purchase of

these shares does not constitute membership. There are many members who are not shareholders. Nor is

it necessary that the Board of Examiners should be

shareholders. It may be composed entirely of members who have no connexion whatever with the " trade."

2. The principle of charging for medicine cannot fairly be said to have been legalized by the Act, for not only was it previously legalized, but it has been decided in the courts of law that by the Apothecaries' Act the

principle of charging for attendance has been legalized; and, in fact, the powers of this much-abused Act have

deprived us of all excuse for charging for drugs, inasmuch as by it we are enabled to recover for medical attendance.

3. So far from the operation of the Act having changed the custom from charging for skill to charging for

drugs, the very reverse has taken place. Before the act of 1815, if we except the charge for "journeys," in

country practice, no apothecary or general practitioner ever dreamed of making any charge for visits or attend

ance, but only for medicines, midwifery, and surgical

operations. But now the number of those who never

think of charging for drugs, except with disgust and

loathing, is, happily, increasing every year. Thanks to

the Act of 1815, and to the improved tone of the

medical profession generated by its operation. 4. Your correspondent states that " the Apothecaries'

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CORRESPONDENCE.?THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 139

Company has done much in raising the standard of

medical education in spite of the Act of Parliament."

This again is not quite correct. What would the

Apothecaries' Company have accomplished without the

Act ? Clearly nothing. Probably Mr. Bree intended

to say, " In spite of the imperfections of the Act."

This is most true; and it is equally true that "as

a body they have not advanced medical science a single

step." It would have been strange indeed if they had.

Those members of this despised Society who have had

the honour of advancing medical science (and they are

not a few in number) have of course either accomplished their task by individual effort or in connexion with the

members of some Society established for the promotion of the special branch of science to which their attention has been directed. Examining bodies do not constitute the advanced guard, but rather the rear-guard, of the

medical body. Their appointed business is not to

speculate in improvements, nor to take the lead in dis

covery ; but to see that all the members of the medical

body are acquainted with the established principles of the science. The standard of their examinations should,

therefore, be raised from time to time as the science

advances. This has been done in a most exemplary way by the Board of Examiners appointed by the

Society of Apothecaries. They have raised the standard of medical attainment very considerably, as is acknow

ledged on all hands ; and while I would give them credit for the sober zeal with which they have executed this

great work, I must still maintain that the Apothecaries' Act of 1815 has alone given them the power to effect it.

In conclusion, I beg to disclaim the expression of

any opinion on the much-vexed question of Medical

Reform, and even to express my regret that a contro

versy which will prove I fear more fruitful in discord

than in any other result, should have been again, in

spite of your Editorial wishes, thrust upon your atten

tion. No legislation can keep mean spirits and low

minded men out of the profession. No Act of Parlia

ment can raise the relative condition of the sedimentary portion of the profession. Let us not be deluded into

the hope that any British Legislature will ever consent

so to restrict the practice of medicine as effectually to

put down quacks or ignorant practitioners. This will never be done ; and the wonder is, that any thinking

man should cherish so hopeless an expectation. The

Act of 1815 was never intended for this purpose. Its

"imperfections," as they are called, were carefully devised evasions. The provisions of the Act were well

canvassed by the medical practitioners of the day, and

although they succeeded in erasing many objectionable clauses, not one of them suspected that mere druggists, or quacks calling themselves druggists, were intended

j to be left with as full liberty to practise as before. But

so it was, and so it will be in every future Act profes

sing to restrict the practice of medicine, surgery, and

midwifery. No effective restriction will ever be con

templated for a moment by those who have powers to

effect it.

I am, Gentlemen, your obedient Servant, TRUTH.

London, Feb. 22, 1851.

THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.

Sir,?As you have lately alluded to the management of the Journal, can you inform myself and the other

members of the Association when the Committee ap

pointed at Hull to consider the publications of the

Association are likely to make their report. It is to bo

hoped that their suggestions will be proportionate in

value to the time occupied in maturing them. They have unquestionably a difficult task, but I trust they will agree upon some effective plan, for it is a melan

choly fact that an Association comprising nearly two

thousand members should be so barren in its produc tions. The old tale "

parturiunt montes," &c, is sin

gularly applicable. The fault, no doubt, is in great measure with its members ; but I cannot help thinking there is some want of tact and energy at head quarters. Surely, from so large a body, one volume of "

Trans

actions" in a year and one journal in a fortnight might be extracted containing matter of a higher standard and

more useful stamp than that which usually emanates from our press.

I am one of that number who consider that the

Association descended from its high position as a scien

tific body when it entered into the field of medical

politics; and I think that when that subject becomes

the Hamlet of the play we had better discontinue the

performance.

May I be allowed to suggest the three following

points to the consideration of the Committee :?

1. The propriety of using a varied type in the

Journal, so that certain subjects, such as medical

politics, &c, might occupy less space and a less con

spicuous position. 2. The appointment of a foreign Editor, who, not

content with prosy accounts of the meetings of the

Acadamie des Sciences, and lengthy extracts from the

Gazette M?dicale, would give us a little of the pith, scientific and practical, physiological and pathological, from the German, Italian, and French journals and

authors. I am sure there are many well-qualified

gentlemen who would engage to do this for a fair

remuneration. The extracts from English journals,

&c, would of course be continued, also the reviews,

though I would not suggest the one in your last num

ber, on an "Address to a Medical Student," as an

object of imitation.

3. The enlisting into the service certain gentlemen in

the larger provincial towns, who would collect informa

tion, give the accounts of important operations and

cases, and in various ways contribute to the efficiency of the publications. I do not conceive there would be

much difficulty in this. I am, Sir,

A FREQUENT READER. February 8, 1851.

DR. MEREI.

To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.

Sir,?I beg leave to direct attention to a typogra

phical error which I have met with in your last publica

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