[Marxism] The Lancet [was: Re: What the First World Owes South Africa]

[Paddy Apling]

Nice to see a mention of the Lancet, a highly-regarded medical/public health 
journal.
Its web-site at http://www.thelancet.com/ provides (on free registration) 
abstracts of every article published and full access to a selection of 
important articles.

The Lancet was founded in 1823 by Thos. Wakeley, and was from its beginning 
a campaigning journal - whose initial impetus was (before the establishment 
of the British Medical Association) to
improve the lot of junior doctors who were often exploited by their 
supervising consultants.

A somewhat later campaign of the Lancet, starting in the 1840s, was to 
campaign for a Food & Drugs Act  finally passed in 1860, and Thomas Wakeley 
is a major historical figure in the campaign for safe and unadulterated food 
and drugs- with its updated versions still crucial in the control of food 
safety and the prevention of misleading claims made for food and drugs - and 
over a long period it published regularly scientific reports of dangerous or 
adulterate food products bought in shops and markets across the country, 
withstanding against many threats of libel actions and at first a wthering 
press campaign against its revelations.

Its campaigning also led to similar legislation following in other 
countries - but not until 1806 did the USA follow Britain with its own Food, 
Drug and Cosmetic Act !!

It continues to be highly independent-minded, never reluctant to publish 
material highly critical of aspects of the medical and scientific 
establishment.

The Lancet's web-site should be bookmarked by all on this list really 
interested in matters of public health worldwide.

Incidentally, yours truly qualified in 1957 as a professional under the 
British Food & Drugs Legislation (known as Master of Chemical Analysis - 
MChemA), and has long been an avid reader of The Lancet.

Paddy
http://apling.freeservers.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "S. Artesian" <sartesian at earthlink.net>
To: <e.c.apling at btinternet.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 10:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Marxism] What the First World Owes South Africa


> The Lancet, whose editorial commitment to public health is excellent, has
> printed critical surveys and analyses of the worldwide public health
> situation, with great emphasis on Africa, the countdown to the 2015
> Millenium Development Goals, etc.  Included is the mis-distribution of
> health care professionals from less developed to more developed countries.