Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Medical Practitioners, Politics, Professionalization

    Urges Mr Punch to ask Prime Minister Henry J Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) to support a new medical bill because it aims to quash quackery. Argues that any medical bill that does not prevent quackery and 'druggists' counter-practices' will only protect the 'superior and educated classes', while leaving the 'poor and ignorant to prescribe quack remedies for their own complaints' or to receive treatment from quacks. Presumes that the bill will contain a 'registration clause', but criticises the cost of registration and urges Mr Punch to ask Palmerston to reject the bill if it is prohibitive on the lives of 'poor doctors'. Concludes by suggesting that the medical profession look after itself and 'go the whole hog of Free Trade in physic'.