Report as to the practice of medicine and surgery by unqualified persons in the United Kingdom / presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of His Majesty.

Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report as to the practice of medicine and surgery by unqualified persons in the United Kingdom / presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of His Majesty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Bradford City and County Borough. Extent of practice by unqualified person8.—Practice increasing as a whole. It is made up as follows :—(1) Abortionists—increasing. (2) Cancer curers—increasing (3) Specialists in venereal diseases—largely in- creasing. (4) Opticians and aurists—advertise extensively and are very common. (5) Herbalists have increased enormously and advertise every- where. (6) Chemists—prescribing by them is a matter of common knowledge—they treat minor medical and sometimes surgical cases. (7) Christian Scientists—increasing. (8) Sale of proprietary medicines—they are extensively advertised for all ailments, and their use Ls much abused. (9) Vendors of salves and curers of sores. (10) “Water casters”—a few still exist and do a thriving business. (11) Medical electricians. (12) Bonesetters—diminishing as a class. Effect of such practice.—(2) Very detrimental to individuals. Operation postponed until disease becomes incurable. (3) The diseases are very ineffectually dealt with, and the credulity of the victims is taken advantage of. (4) Much damage done. (5) Prejudicial to individuals. (7) Their treatment distinctly militates against ultimate recovery. (8) Irreparable injury caused in many cases. (11) Distinctly unsatisfactory results. (12) Detrimental. Brighouse Borough. Extent of practice by unqualified persons.—Not increasing during last 10 years. Effect of such practice.—Inappreciable. Brighton County Borough. Extent of practice by unqualified persons.—Practically non-existent. One herbalist does a certain amount of practice. Effect of such practice.—Not stated. Bristol City and County Borough. Extent of practice by unqualified persons.—It has assumed large proportions and is probably increasing in extent. (1) Prescribing by chemists universal, at least one visiting patients. (2) Large business done by widely advertising establishments of druggists, herbalists, and medical electricians. (3) Christian Scientists do considerable business. and apparently increasing. (4) Advertisements of vendors of abortifacients are widely prevalent and are scarcely veiled. (5) Extensive use o£ proprietary medicines. (6) Itinerant quacks, medical electricians, and a hernia specialist. Effect of such practice.—Cannot fail to be detrimental. Bromley Borough. Extent of practice by unqualified persons.—Non-existent, beyond the usual amount of prescribing by chemists. Effect of such practice.—Not stated. Burnley County Borough. Extent of practice by unqualified persons.—Not increasing. There is a certain amount by herbalists and druggists, and a few bonesetters visit the town. Also ophthalmic work by “ certified opticians,” and dentistry by unqualified dentists. Effect of such practice.—Practice of eye-work among school children by unqualified persons has a harmful*effect. Otherwise, Medical Officer of Health is not in a position to state. Burslem Borough. Extent of practice by unqualified persons.—Not increasing. Practice by chemists (almost every ailment), herbalists {inter alia,.venereal disease, and treatment of cancer by women). Sale of abortifacients. Effect of such practice.—Abortifacients, and “cures for cancer” to a less extent, affect the public health prejudicially.