Deletion of Natural Remedies from Pharmacology Courses

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

I am passing a copy of this to VBMA and the Irish Vet Assoc List.

 

For a sobering read, see Roger Wicke's " The Dumbing Down of

American Education: Implications for Herbal Education " , Herbalist

Review, Issue 2003 #4, at:

http://www.rmhiherbal.org/review/2003-4.html    

 

I believe that Roger is correct. See the full article! It is right on

target and is a bit depressing because it is so true.

 

What Roger says there also applies to other countries also, and to

the pharmacology course taught to veterinarians. Here is one hard-

hitting extract:

 

> The medical college accrediting & funding agencies ... demanded

> that the practical core courses of botany, phytochemistry &

> clinical herbalism be removed from the curriculum so as to make

> doctors dependent on the synthetic chemical industry. Their

> academic, social, and financial status was improved to distract

> them from their new status as servants of the pharmaceutical

> companies.

 

When I was in the UCD Vet School (1959-1964), the Pharmacology

course included many old and simple natural remedies, based on

common plants and minerals: Nux Vom, Amon Carb, Pulv

Zingiberis, Pot Permang, Gentian, Glycerin, Squill, Tinct of

Chloroform & Morphine Co., etc.

 

Colleague Maurice O'Reilly, a classmate in UCD Vet School, wrote

to the Irish Vet List in July 2002 [apologies for the plagiarism,

Maurice!]:

 

> Having read Professor Kealy's notes on old remedies brought back

> memories of another age. In the late sixties I was in general

> practice ... and was acompanied on a post-mortem examination by a

> senior (in many ways) District Veterinary Officer, a Scot by the

> name of John MacMennenaway, known and revered if not feared, as

> " Mac " . Anyhow I was driving a VW Beetle at the time. Beneath the

> front bonnett I had all my array of the latest veterinary drugs

> laid out with some care. Mac was absolutely mesmerized by the

> display..

>

> " Laddie " , he said, " when I was a young vet we only had TWO drugs in

> our dispensary- Ginger and Gentian. If the cow was sick we

> prescribed Ginger. If she was very sick we gave her Gentian and if

> that didn't work we gave her Ginger and Gentian " .

>

> I have often thought about his remarks when we complain about the

> loss of some of our favourite products that are no longer

> available. Rgds to all Maurice

 

As far as I know, the old pharmacology has been deleted from the

curriculum of the Dublin Vet School. Would colleagues from the

UCD Faculty please confirm?

 

Best regards,

Phil

 

PS: UCD Graduates: Please contact me off-list if you have a copy

of the Pharmacology Notes from circa 1961. I would appreciate a

copy greatly!

 

 

Best regards,

 

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