Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T13:36:48.173Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Professionalization and narcotics: the medical and pharmaceutical professions and British narcotic use 1868–1926

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Virginia Berridge
Virginia Berridge*
Affiliation:
Addiction Research Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr V. Berridge, Addiction Research Unit, 101 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Synopsis

This paper analyses the influence of medical professional organization on the formation of attitudes and policies towards narcotics in England. Restrictions on sale were one corollary, and the extension of medical control helped delineate a hypodermic morphine problem and disease theories of ‘inebriety’. In the period 1916–26 the Home Office attempted to impose a penal and nonprofessional policy. The 1926 Rolleston Report marked a compromise between medical professionalism and public policy.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , August 1978 , pp. 361 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allbutt, T. C. (1870). On the abuse of hypodermic injections of morphia. The Practitioner 5, 327–331.Google Scholar
Allbutt, T. C. (1897). Opium poisoning and other intoxications. In A System of Medicine, vol. 2 (ed. Allbutt, T. C.), pp. 874–920. MacMillan: London.Google Scholar
Allbutt, T. C. & Dixon, W. E. (1906). Opium poisoning and other intoxications, In A System of Medicine vol. 2, part 1 (ed. Allbutt, T. C. and Rolleston, H. D.) pp. 937–988. MacMillan: London.Google Scholar
Anstie, F. E. (1868). The hypodermic injection of remedies. The Practitioner 1, 32–41.Google Scholar
Armitage, W. (1850). Chemist's prescription book from Thorne, near Doncaster. Wellcome History of Medicine Library MS 978.Google Scholar
Bell, J. & Redwood, T. (1880). Historical Sketch of the Progress of Pharmacy in Great Britain. Pharmaceutical Society: London.Google Scholar
Berridge, V. (1977 a). Opium and the historical perspective. Lancet ii, 78–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berridge, V. (1977 b). Fenland opium eating in the nineteenth century. British Journal of Addiction 72, 275–284.Google ScholarPubMed
Berridge, V. (1977 c). Our own opium; cultivation of the opium poppy in Britain, 1740–1823. British Journal of Addiction 72, 90–94.Google ScholarPubMed
Berridge, V. (1977 d). Opium eating and life insurance. British Journal of Addiction 72, 371–377.Google ScholarPubMed
Berridge, V. (1978 a). Opium over the counter in nineteenth century England. Pharmacy in History (forthcoming, 07).Google Scholar
Berridge, V. (1978 b). Victorian opium eating; responses to opiate use in nineteenth century England. Victorian Studies (forthcoming 07).Google ScholarPubMed
Berridge, V. (1978 c). War conditions and narcotics control: the passing of Defence of the Realm Act regulation 40 B. Journal of Social Policy (forthcoming).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bethlem Admission Registers (1890 onwards). Admission of patients to Bethlem Royal Hospital.Google Scholar
Bett, W. R. (1954). The discovery of morphine. Chemist and Druggist 162, 63–64, 83.Google Scholar
Brand, J. L. (1965). Doctors and the State. The British Medical Profession and Government Action in Public Health 1870–1912. John Hopkins Press: Baltimore, Maryland.Google Scholar
British Medical Association (1909). Secret Remedies, What They Cost and What They Contain. British Medical Association: London.Google Scholar
British Medical Association (1912). More Secret Remedies. What They Cost and What They Contain. British Medical Association: London.Google Scholar
British Medical Journal (1868). Report of the Pharmacy Bill Committee to the General Medical Council, ii, 39.Google Scholar
British Medical Journal (1890). Memorandum from parliamentary bills committee on the poisons law, ii, 973–975.Google Scholar
British Medical Journal (1892). The Waters of Lethe, ii, 1401.Google Scholar
British Medical Journal (1904). Prescriptions of opium and morphine, ii, 784, 1617.Google Scholar
Clouston, T. S. (1890). Diseased cravings and paralysed control. Edinburgh Medical Journal 35, 508–521, 689–705, 793–809, 985–996.Google Scholar
Daniel, G. (1868–1869, 1875). Prescription Book of George Daniel, chemist of Holloway Road. Wellcome History of Medicine Library, MS 2033.Google Scholar
Ferris, J. S. (1871). Anomalous systems in the case of morphia poisoning. British Medical Journal ii, 555.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DrFoot, (1889). Morphinism. Debate at the Royal Academy of Medicine, Ireland. British Medical Journal ii, 1221.Google Scholar
Foreign Office Papers (1914). F.O. 371, 1925. Inter-departmental meetings on legislation.Google Scholar
Friend of China (1892). Supplement: The Medical Aspect of the Opium, Question, 13, 29–35.Google Scholar
Friend of China (1896). Medical Debate in London, 16, 129–131.Google Scholar
Gadd, W. (1910). The ownership of medical prescriptions. Lancet ii, 1030.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansard (1858). 3rd ser. 150, col. 1508 onward. 4 06.Google Scholar
Hansard (1859). 3rd ser. 152, col. 205 onward. 8 02.Google Scholar
Hansard (1868). 3rd ser. 192, col. 1555 onward. 15 06.Google Scholar
Hartley, E. (1873). Case of poisoning by laudanum. Lancet ii, 684–685.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hayter, A. (1968). Opium and the Romantic Imagination. Faber and Faber: London.Google Scholar
Home Office Papers (1857). H.O. 45, 6431. Sale of Poisons Bill.Google Scholar
Home Office Papers (1864–1865). H.O. 45, 7531. Chemists and Druggists Qualification Bills.Google Scholar
Home Office Papers (1920–1921). H.O. 45, 11023, Draft Regulations under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920.Google Scholar
Home Office Papers (1921). H.O. 45, 11028. Committee on the Draft Regulations under the Dangerous Drugs Act.Google Scholar
Home Office Papers (1922–1923 a). H.O. 45, 11285. Doctors' Offences.Google Scholar
Home Office Papers (1922–1923 b). H.O. 45, 11252. Dangerous Drugs and Poisons (Amendment) Bill.Google Scholar
Home Office Papers (1921–1930). H.O. 45, 451, 408. Cases of addiction and pre-Rolleston negotiations.Google Scholar
Homes for Inebriates Association (1913–1914). Thirtieth Annual Report.Google Scholar
Honigsbaum, F. (1970). The Struggle for the Ministry of Health, 1914–1919. Occasional Paper on Social Administration, no. 37. G. Bell & Sons: London.Google Scholar
House of Lords Journal (1868). Passage of Pharmacy Bill, 100, 189, 239, 256, 277–278, 284, 290, 463.Google Scholar
Howard-Jones, N. (1947). A critical study of the origins and early development of hypodermic medication. Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences 2, 201–249.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huntley, W. (1896). Opium addiction: Is it a disease? Proceedings of the Society for the Study of Inebriety 50, 1–16.Google Scholar
Jennings, W. O. (1890). On the Cure of Morphia Habit. Baillière, Tindall & Cox: London.Google Scholar
Jennings, W. O. (1909 a). The Morphia Habit and its Voluntary Renunciation. Baillière, Tindall & Cox: London.Google Scholar
Jennings, W. O. (1909 b). The Re-education of Self-Control in the Treatment of the Morphia Habit. Ballière, Tindall & Cox: London.Google Scholar
Jones, R. A. (1902). Notes on some cases of morphinomania. Journal of Mental Science 48, 478–495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kane, H. H. (1880). The Hypodermic Injection of Morphia. Its History, Advantages and Dangers. Charles L. Bermingham: New York.Google Scholar
Kerr, N. (1889). Inebriety, Its Etiology, Pathology, Treatment and Jurisprudence (2nd edn). London.Google Scholar
King's College Hospital (1870, 1880). Case Notes. Royal College of Physicians Library.Google Scholar
Lancet (1869). The Privy Council and the Pharmacy Act, i, 469.Google Scholar
Lancet (1879). Letter from Dr H. H. Kane, ii, 449.Google Scholar
Lefebure, M. (1974). Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A Bondage of Opium. Victor Gollancz: London.Google Scholar
Levinstein, E. (1878). Morbid Craving for Morphia (Die Morphiumsucht). Smith, Elder: London.Google Scholar
Linstead, H. N. (1936). Poisons Law. A Guide to the Provisions of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1852 to 1933 and The Dangerous Drugs Acts, 1920 to 1932. Pharmaceutical Press: London.Google Scholar
Lomax, E. (1973). The uses and abuses of opiates in nineteenth century England. Bulletin of the History of Medicine 47, 167–176.Google ScholarPubMed
Lowes, P. D. (1966). The Genesis of International Narcotics Control. Librairie Droz: Geneva.Google Scholar
Ministry of Health Papers (1919–1927). M.H. 58, 51. Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920; Regulations, 1921–1926.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Health Papers (1923–1926). M.H. 58, 275–278. Minutes; appointment and evidence of the Rolleston Committee.Google Scholar
Norwood Sanatorium Ltd (1932). Survey of a quarter of a century of the treatment of alcoholism and other drug habits. Being the 25th report of the ‘Rendlesham’ and ‘Beckenham’ Branches of the Norwood Sanatorium Ltd.Google Scholar
Pharmaceutical Journal (1850). The sale of poisons, 9, 163, 205–210, 352–357, 590–591.Google Scholar
Pharmaceutical Journal (1868–1869). Regulations for the sale of poisons, new series, 10, 561–562, 566–568.Google Scholar
Pharmaceutical Journal (1889–1890). Poisoning by chlorodyne, 3rd series, 20, 1035.Google Scholar
Pharmaceutical Journal (1891–1892). Important decision under the Pharmacy Act 1868, 3rd series, 22, 928–940.Google Scholar
Pharmacy Act (1868). An Act to regulate the sale of poisons and alter and amend the Pharmacy Act, 1852, 31 and 32 Vict. cap. CXXI.Google Scholar
Poisons and Pharmacy Act (1908). 8. Edw. 7. ch. 55.Google Scholar
Poisons Register (1886–1893). Eastbourne Register. Pharmaceutical Society Collection.Google Scholar
Pollock, J. (1977). Wilberforce. Constable: London.Google Scholar
Privy Council Office Papers (1868). P.C. 8, 153. Pharmacy Act 1868. Law Officers' opinion.Google Scholar
Reader, W. J. (1966). Professional Men. The Rise of the Professional Classes in Nineteenth Century England. Weidenfeld & Nicolson: London.Google Scholar
Registrar General's Reports (1891–1900). Annual Reports Violent Deaths. HMSO: London.Google Scholar
Richardson, B. W. (1883). On the morphia habit and its treatment. British Medical Journal ii, 1194.Google Scholar
Rolleston Report (1926). Report of the Departmental Committee on Morphine and Heroin Addiction. HMSO: London.Google Scholar
Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the Feeble Minded (1908). Parliamentary Papers. Vols. 35–39.Google Scholar
Sainsbury, H. (1909). Drugs and the Drug Habit. Methuen: London.Google Scholar
Select Committee on the Sale of Poisons Bill (1857). Report of the Select Committee. P.P. 1857, 12, 551.Google Scholar
Select Committee on the Chemists and Druggists Bill and Chemists and Druggists (No. 2) Bill (1865). Special Report. P.P. 1865, 12, 381.Google Scholar
Select Committee on Patent Medicines (1913–1914). Report and Evidence. P.P. 1914, 9, 1.Google Scholar
Sharkey, S. (1887). Morphinomania. Nineteenth Century 22, 335–342.Google Scholar
Society of Apothecaries (1868–1871). Laboratory Mixture and Process Book. Guildhall Library MS 8277.Google Scholar
Sonnedecker, G. (1962). Emergence of the concept of opiate addiction. Journal Mondiale Pharmacie 3, 275–290.Google Scholar
Sonnedecker, G. (1963). Journal Mondiale Pharmacie 1, 27–34.Google Scholar
Taylor, A. H. (1969). American Diplomacy and the Narcotics Traffic, 1900–1939. Duke University Press: Durham, N.C.Google Scholar
Times (1923). Letter from W. E. Dixon, 21 03.Google Scholar
Trade Statistics (1870–1899). Annual Statements of Trade: Imports and Exports of Opium (in Parliamentary Papers).Google Scholar
Wilson, C. D. (1975). Personal communication from managing director of J. T. Davenport & Co.Google Scholar
Woolcock, W. J. Uglow (1906). Historical sketch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Pharmaceutical Journal 72, 4th series, 22, 58–59, 193–194, 252, 342, 374–375, 438–439.Google Scholar