The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-24 00:00:00

DRUGGISTS AND THEIR CHARGES.

A medical correspondent exposes a gross system of
surcharge as practised by druggists. He gives a
case which may probably be a representative
one. A young lady had been under his treatment
for some time, and his prescriptions were made up
by a certain druggist. He was surprised at length
by his patient declaring that she could no
longer take his medicine, complaining that
every six ounces cost her 4s. The doctor thought
there was a mistake, and determined to rectify it.
On visiting the druggist ho was told that 4s. was the
usual charge. Being dissatisfied, the doctor went to
the nearest rival establishment an.t got the same
quantity of physic for is. 6d., or at the rate of Os.
for 30 ounces inotead of £1 4S. Patients whose
pecuniary means are limited may well object to
continue to have prescriptions made up, and it is to
be hoped that as the system of exorbitant charges is
now revealed to the public, the druggists will
see the propriety of imposing some restraint upon
their greed.

TILE TRUCK SYSTEM.

A gentleman sent by the Birnzinghanz Gazette to
look into the Truck System in the Black Country
girl es a forcible description of its evils. Something like
a quickening of public
.sentiment on this subject
has occurred, and it is scarcely likely that
Mr. Bruce, who has expressed his abhorrence
of the " Tommy," "Tally," and " Truck " shops, will
content himself with a mere expression of opinion.
It is proved that the poor population are lettered
by a system which is little better than serfdom.
They are, however unwilling, compelled to patronise
the " fogger," generally their employer, who forces
them to drink almost to the exhaustion of their
wages, and to have dealings with the " tommy " or
"tally" shopkeeper, also generally their employer, who
induces them to take credit upon the mortgage of their
wages. Thus are the poor wretches made the victims of
their employers' rapaciousness, being made drunkards
under a compulsory system of drinking, and being
robbed by having to pay an exorbitant price lor an
inferior article of consumption. The scenes of
drunkenness which occur on occasions when the
people wait for the materials of their toil are almost
incredible. Persons of both sexes and all ages are
to be seen in taverns owned or leased by their em-
ployees, awl frequently they become so drunk that
they are incapable of carrying away their burdens,
but drop down on the roadside.
REWARDED AT LAST.

A man named Apps has been sentenced to five
years' penal servitude by the magistrates at the Old
Bailey for a fraud which, although not very profound,
was evidently allowed to be practised with some im-
punity by the prisoner. Evidence was adduced to prove
that Mr. .pps had at different periods applied to six
building firms and obtained from them a
total sum of one hundred pounds, having led
them to believe that he had received injuries
upon their premises. His habit was to write a
letter informing the builders that on such a day he
had fallen over a piece of timber, or down an unpro-
tected cellar, or had been hurt, as in one instance,
by the fall of scaffolding. The communications
from the man represented tonally that a fractured
leg, or dislocated armm compelled the complainant
to seek damages. He did not, however, try
to make a profit out of his case,"
but a just compensation he should have. The jury
received satisfactory testimony that the prisoner had
in some of the claims at least victimised firms
through false statements of injuries, and found him
guilty of fraud. Few will regret that the imaginary
mishaps of Mr. Apps have at length been the means
of causing a real one to happen to him.

DELEGATED Atil'ROAM.

A caw which created some interest a' the time it

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, Nov. 21.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice, and
attended by the Duchess of Roxburghe, visited the Loch-
nagar school.
The Queen went out in the afternoon, attended by
Lady Florence Seymour.
The birthday of her Royal Highness the Crown Prin-
cess of Prussia was well remembered at the Castle. A.
dance took place in the servants' hall, at which her Ma-
jesty, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold were pre-
sent for a part of the time.