The Placebo

             A drug used in the 18^th, 19^th and early 
            20^th Centuries by both the Medical and 
                 Veterinary Medical Professions

                               The Placebo

It’s not exactly the placebo effect, but as in Voltaire’s summary:

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature does the healing.” 

     No offense or diminishing our healing efforts and procedures, but it really is 
nature that does the healing in both our professions.

    This drug in tablet form, was used in human medicine and later by the 
veterinarian in treating dogs in the early 20 Century.  As small animal practice, as 
we know it today didn’t develop till the early 1900s.

                     

                                              Norwich Pharmagal Company

          The Norwich Pharmaceutical Company was established in Norwich, 
New York, in 1887.  In 1893, Norwich introduced Unguentine to the medical 
profession as the first antiseptic surgical dressing. The company’s mixture called Cholera Infantum, later renamed Pepto-Bismol, appeared for the first time in 1901. 
Its principal use was for infants with severe diarrhea.  In 1907, Acetylsalicylic acid 
aspirin) tablets were added to the company’s product line.

         Is it a forgotten drug?  Not necessary:

    There is an international Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies (SIPS) 
which meets regularly.  The last conference was in Leiden, Netherlands July 7-9, 
2019.  There have been other meetings on placebo effect dating back to 2007 and 
earlier. 

    Title of one was: Biomedical, Clinical and Philosophical Aspects of the Placebo, 
held in Switzerland   

     Just click on this Placebo conference:

http://www.allconferences.com/conferences/2012/20120309064106