The article on drug resistance “Use the drug sparingly, you'll save the patient (Open Page, April 10) brings to mind vivid memories of the dispensaries of the past. In the late 1940s, I used to be ushered into the clinic by my grandfather. The doctor examined me for fever by planting a thermometer into my mouth, palpate my lower stomach, listen to my breathing with a stethoscope and then prescribe a carminative mixture. We had to take our own empty bottles for this. After filling it up, he pasted a cut strip of paper indicating the dosage, all minor tasks that were entrusted to his compounder. The fever, or whatever discomfort it was, vanished like magic in a couple of days.
On the contrary, the modern doctor, who sits in a posh clinic, writes down a laundry list of drugs. It's no wonder then that a sledgehammer used to swat a fly ensures dramatic results. It is this indiscriminate use of drugs that has led to today's emergence of deadly drug resistant bacteria. How I wish we return to the good old days.
R. Ramachandra Rao,
Hyderabad
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Drug resistance is a major problem that confronts the medical profession. Self-prescription is another disease that is quite common as we seem to get our half-baked knowledge from the internet and the varieties of online medical encyclopaedias. Antibiotics should be used only as a last resort on the doctor's advice. There is also a tendency among people to discontinue a course as soon as the symptoms subside. The medical fraternity is quick to prescribe a very strong antibiotic when a milder one would do the job. Pharmacists too play a dubious role in this vicious circle. Sadly, the government machinery to tackle this major problem is weak.
Ninan P. George,
Mavelikara
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This refers to the article “When superstition won the cup” (Open Page, April 10). In the 1970s, when it was the era of the radio commentary, India toured the West Indies. Whenever I used to place my newborn niece on my lap, a mighty WI wicket used to fall. I did not put her down till we won the match.
V. Vijayendra Rao,
Neyveli
