Punch,  8 (1845), 28.

Medicine for the Million

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Government, Class, Pharmaceuticals


    Commenting on the Home Secretary James R G Graham's medical bill, the author points out that the bill 'is calculated to put a pill into every man's mouth', reflecting Graham's belief that 'the poor may be dosed into a better condition'. Adds that the poor will still rush 'for comfort to the bottle', but the bottle will be filled by the druggist rather than the distiller. Anticipates that the culture of alcoholic consumption will be displaced by the culture of drug-taking. For example, 'gin palaces will be converted into medicine-marts' and public houses will puff themselves as the 'only house in London for the celebrated fever mixture at twopence a quartern'. Anticipates a time when 'poverty [...] may take to medicine as a cure for sorrow'.



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