Report as to the practice of medicine and surgery by unqualified persons in the United Kingdom.

  • Great Britain. Local Government Board
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report as to the practice of medicine and surgery by unqualified persons in the United Kingdom. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Caiic(M- is also extensively troaterl by chemists and herbalists, and its cure is undertaken by Medical Companies and kindred institutions through the post. Bonesetters sometimes undertake the treatment of cancer. Residents in the country districts are attracted by the curers practising in the large towns. The treatment is usually by the application of local remedies, as ointments, or caustic fluids. In one case perchloride of mercury is said to be used. Heavy fees are usually charged, and large numbers of persons are being deluded by these specious quacks to their great detriment in health and pocket. The cases of suffering referred to in the replies indicate that a large amount of harm is being done. The treatment in very many cases aggravates the disease. Much misery and pain in the later stages of the disease are caused, and in some instances premature death. This is the case particularly with regard to cancer of the breast, which is the commonest form of the disease treated. A case is instanced in which one cancer curer diagnosed cancer of the breast where none existed, and his treatment of the case necessitated subsequent amputation. In another case, cancer of the rectum, which ended fatally, was treated by a chemist without seeing the patient. UNQUALIFIED PRACTICE IN RELATION TO CONSUMPTION. Some quacks specialise in the treatment of consumption, and are stated to attain wide reputation. Consumption cures are much advertised in the press, a fact which is adversely commented on by a few Medical Officers of Health. Herbalists and chemists are also reported to undertake the treatment of consumption. The effects upon the public health, through the mdividual, are indirect. During its incipient stages, the disease might, by proper treatment, be eradicated, or at least mitigated. But erroneous treatment by quacks aggravates it, until the time when a cure might have been effected has gone by. Skilled advice is often not sought until too late. It is stated that no precautions are advised by these consumption curers to prevent the spread of the disease. Other forms of unqualified practice may be briefly alluded to. Electricians. Treatment by electricity, electrical vspecialists, vibration, and high frequency seems to be fairly common, and has been attended by unsatisfactory results in many instances. It is chiefly referred to in the replies from some of the larger towns. First Aid Associations. Several Medical Officers of Health allege that ambulance men and members of First Aid Associations arc showing an increasing tendency to go beyond their ]irovincc.