Not a general medicine (8)

I believe the answer is:

specific

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'medicine' is the definition.
(I know that specific is a type of medicine)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for specific that I've seen before include "Precise, not vague" , "Precise, clearly defined" , "Clear and exact" , "Detailed" , "Old medicine" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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