They're like a drug on the market. If you don't believe it, take an afternoon's glimpse at the Big Eye.

Yessir, your TV will assure you that a trip to the drugstore is all you need to alleviate your aches and pains, heart irregularities, breathing difficulties and other ailments that may beset you.

The cure is right there on the shelf and without prescription you may select your palliative and simply pay the cashier.

Many people out there in our warped-up society swear by the adman's admonitions and write off physicians as lost causes.

That is to say they &uot;shelve the doc&uot; n until they get involved in an accident or in dire straits and wind up with broken bones or other injuries that require medical attention.

It is then, and only then, that the TV ads are rendered null for the heretofore nonbelievers who then become true believers in medical science.

The accursed video folks are interested in but one thing: the vast sums they collect for their commercial exertions.

The time perhaps has arrived when the surgeon general should affix the warning that that office already has placed on cigarettes: Quitting (usage of product) greatly reduces serious risks to your health.

Although that warning may overdo its intent somewhat in this instance, it wouldn't be too far amiss if applied to many quasi-products as well, including exercise equipment, nonsmoking nostrums and numerous other products.

But getting back to our medical practitioners, I feel those knowledgeable gentlemen and ladies have spent from nine to 12 years preparing for their profession, and must pass state and/or national board approval prior to hanging out their shingles.

I don't know about your druthers, but mine give a double thumbs up to the physicians of the realm.

Buster MacGuire is copy editor and columnist for the Greenville Advocate.

He may be reached by calling 334.382.3111.