A similar change has taken place concerning diphtheria. Anti-toxin and treatment are supplied to the patient at the expense of the communities in by far the greater number of cases.
Smallpox is practically unknown, for similar reasons.
Bacterins as prophylactic measures against typhoid, and a number of other diseases, are coming into increased usefulness.
Chemo Therapy. The latest advance has done astounding things. With one treatment of 606, Salvarsan, specific disease disappears to return no more. At least it seems so at this early date.
Much is promised from the same source in the eradication of cancer.
Leprosy, incurable, from remote antiquity, seems about to succumb to the new enlightenment.
The extermination of tuberculosis is within hailing distance. And so on through the whole catalogue of ills that plagued the people, unrestrained, less than 30 years ago.
The transcendental discovery of Dr. Koch, that has made possible all of these wonders, and many others beside, and others yet to come, is the simple fact that microscopic organisms grow in pure culture, upon a piece of boiled potato. This is the corner-stone upon which has been built the whole science of modern Bacteriology. With these facts confronting us and others of like nature to follow, we naturally turn to inquire what effect these changes are likely to exert upon the practice of pharmacy.
Every pharmacist has observed the greatly increased development of the commercial side of the drug business as compared with its scientific side, which rather seems to be accorded a secondary place in the conduct of its affairs, regardless of the fact that this feature is the one that gives it character, and the only one that distinguishes it from ordinary merchandising.
Thirty years ago the physicians whom we knew were high-minded, dignified gentlemen, who held the ethics of their profession in such esteem that they scorned to violate them. We could not imagine any of those, passing out a handful of tablets to an office patient for a fifty-cent fee. And yet the man of today who practices medicine under such conditions is to be condemned no more than his predecessors are to be condemned, because each of them is a product of the conditions of his day. Truly the change is to be deplored and the remedy is not yet ready. Thus we have a dreary spectacle, the most noble calling on God’s green foot-stool, degraded, through its commercial side, into a mad competition for existence. There are some other causes, beside those noted, that contribute to the same effect, such as increased numbers of individuals practicing both medicine and pharmacy. The later causes, however, are self-limiting and not necessarily fatal to the calling as a business proposition, whereas, with preventive measures well established, it is plain to all that both the practice of medicine and pharmacy as now conducted, will come to their end.