https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/38749 2026-04-23T01:54:09Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21708 Title: Sensible prescribing in general practice Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide simple and clear guidelines towards the knowledge that is necessary to allow the sensible use of essential drugs in the management of common conditions. It is important to remember that prescribing drugs is not the. only important factor in the management of disease. Indeed it is important to identify and deal with such factors. Such interventi on might require the cessation of administration of a specific drug. Moreover non-pharmacological measures are important in the management of such conditions, as hypertension, asthma, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, etc. The aim of all therapy is to administer the appropriate drug in the correct dose to produce the desired therapeutic effect with the minimum of adverse side-effects. Whenever a drug is due to be prescribed, one has to take into consideration the three factors which form the therapeutic equation (Figure 1). One has to take into consideration the disease to be treated, the drug which is most appropriate, and the patient to be treated. I will be reviewing these three aspects by giving examples of diseases which are commonly met in general practice. 1995-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21707 Title: The alcoholic patient Abstract: I thank the college for inviting me to make this presentation on how I manage aIcohol related problems in my practice. The hypothetical case is one of a middle-aged businessman who, during one of his rare visits, complains of symptoms of anxiety and difficulty in sleeping, attributed to pressures at work. During questioning he avoids my probing into his aIcohol intake, but does reveal that his wife is being treated by another doctor for depression. Notwithstanding the patient's reluctance, it is essential that one should investigate the quantity and quality of alcohol intake and the relationship of the suspected abuse of aIcohol to the patient's social, family and personal problems. lt is important to assess whether aIcohol intake is in fact excessive, and thus the daily quantity drunk should be determined. A critical level which may trigger dependence is approximately 150 ml per 24 hours, or approximately 1/2 a bottle of spirits, 1 1/2 bottles of wine, or 4 to 7 pints of beer. Pointed questions should be asked to look for specific features which, if present, indicate a tendency to alcohol dependence. It may be very difficult to differentiate heavy social drinking from aIcoholism, but the presence of these features is indicative. 1995-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21668 Title: Maltese medical authors of the 17th and 18th centuries Abstract: The National Library of Malta holds a number of books by Maltese medical authors of the 17th and 18th centuries. These books present various aspects of the theories and exercise of medicine and surgery and of areas of "specialization" of those days. Twenty-seven publications have been traced and are here surveyed. A number of unpublished medical manuscripts are also extant (such as those of the surgeon Michel' Angelo Grima and physician Giuseppe De Marco) but these have not been included in this paper which is intended to illustrate printed works only. 1995-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21667 Title: How I manage : the treatment of impotence Abstract: Dr. Farrugia was my predecessor as editor of this journal and Secretary for Information on the College council, until he was elected Mayor of Zebbug and felt the pressures of office. He has contributed a lot of time and effort to College activities, and continues to run a busy family practice in his home town. This paper was presented as a "How I manage " talk at one of our CPDs. 1995-06-01T00:00:00Z