DR. FENWICK'S ALLEGATIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 18, 26 February 1914, Page 7

DR. FENWICK'S ALLEGATIONS.

STATEMENTS -BY CHEMJStS. DO NOT TREAT SYPHILITIC CASES. The, statements made by Dr Fenwick at the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday in regard to the treatment of syphilis patients caused a flutter 1 of indignation among the knights of/the mortar and pestle, Dr Fenwick said that "90 per cent, of these men go to chemists. They pay, too much —-I don't blame the chemists—and they usually get a bottle of,medicine which is no good to them. They come to a doctor when they are too fair, gone. . These pien usually go to a i ... chemist, at night, say they have colds, •ii.,-' *n<l theny when the shop'is cleared, pay •%7/6- -fpir a bottle'of^medicine,'which they-; i cauriot. afford^and which does. not benefit them." ' ~ ' A CHALLENGE. ' , ' ; ' . These statements were, challenged by Mr A. M. Loasby, who is a well-known prescribing chemist. Mr Loasby said ' that he did a very eonsiderable proportioli of the prescribing done by chemists ,' in Christchurch. It was over seven months since he had seen a case of syphilis, and that case he sent to a dbetor. \ ■ V. , "I am prepared to let any doctor, ' and Dr Fenwick himself, look at my pre- ■ . aCription book, and he can detect anywhere that L have treated a syphil- , itic patient I. will make a very hand- ; v some donation to the Hospital." V HEREDITARY CASES. • Mr Loasby said there was a good deal ot hereditary syphilis, in theforin ' of skin troubles. Many of these cases' eould betreated by chemists as easily «s falling off a log. They would only receive external treatment, in the form' of ointments. Those cases were jfre<juentlypeople of good reputation, wfio certainly woiild not go to a hospital; for venereal diseases for treatment. • c ? ,; CpSt OF MEDICINE.: \ . Mr Loasby" added that every chemist - ' treated gonorrheal arid 'they were quite as competent as doctors to do-that. That disease, however, was not syphilis.' Dr Pen wick .was exaggerating when he '' said that chemists charged 7/6 a bottle f"or medicine.- The "chemists; in the first >' place, did not 'prescribe for syphilis. In the place, the charge for a bottle . of medicine for , the minor disease was 3/6>. " He had recently dispense'd*- • prescription for a medical man for miri6r'diiseasdj which contained Boz of Ja ; pat'ent ntedicine (costing, him . 1/1% pey, Oz),"whereas, the .patient might, easily haye l>eeji ordered' the: less expensive mixture. Altogether, Mr Loasby was • strongly' of opinion that Dr Fenwick Itad Cxaggeraited the position. . •" -- ,- v ■ ■•*' • • • ANOTHER OPINION". ' .; Mr W. Barnett is ; one of' the oldest .••• arid most esteemed chemists in the city, and he holds strong ideas on the subject which'V£S debated at the board meet- . ' \ The .scientific treatment of the. dis- ] ease has advanced considerably ,during' the past'few years," said Mi 1 Barnett, "and : experts' ekn do! things with it which Weite not riot so 'long, ago. I agree ; entirely with what the board is aiming- to. do at the. Hospital. The .disease, like consumption, should be treated : by'; experts.''' : •- : '- : . THE CHEMIST .'S ATTITUDE. Mr Barnett - agreed with Mr Loasby in the opinion that Dr Fenwick had exaggerated the position in regard to chemists. • - - . . "My experience' has been a pretty long one/'- he'saidy"but," so far as I know, ch'eriiists," when ■ they 1 recognise syphilitic, cases,! refer them, to .the doctors,. Of course, you get exceptions in all professions,* even in' the medieal profession. But chemists generally recog-i nise the gravity .of the disease, and the, public also is becoming aliye to it.. . ALL CAUSES SHOljtD BE TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL. " My experience has been that chemists are seldom approached by syphilitic eases, arid that they decline to treat any who may approach them. My own opinion is that all cases, original or hereditary, should be treated at the , Hospital, .as proposed by Dr Fenwick. I can only regret that Dr Fenwick supported his: case, by ; making a charge against the chemists, which betrayed a lack of knowledge of the facts."