The prescription is then taken to the local chemist where you receive your medicine. This medicine is carefully prepared to make you better, it should not poison you or make you ill. In the nineteenth century and for the first half of this century most people could not afford to go to the doctors so they bought patent medicines. These potions were first mass produced in the early 1800’s and sold through newspaper adverts. They made the manufacturers a fortune but rarely had any beneficial effects for those who took them.

In 1908 the British Medical Association produced a book that analysed the content of the most popular patent medicines. Many were found to be little more than flour and water. Even those produced by very large companies contained very little that would help make the patient better.

It was only after the mass production of penicillin that effective medicines really started to be produced. Today all medicines are carefully tested and licensed by the government.