The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-09-04
Ignorant Apo,hccaries.

Ignorant Apoihccaries.
Thousands of lives are sacrificed annually,
in these United States, through the igno-
rance Of apothecaries and their assistants.-
A great many are promptly poisoned out
right by receiving large dose OF arsenic or
corrosive sublima &c for magnesia; and the
number Of children who are destroyed in this
city alone, By swallowing different medi-
cincs from those which were prescribed or an
overdose Of that which was, would, it IL
could be correctly ascertained and announced
10 the public, be deemed absolutely incFedl-
BILE. And yet these are but some OF the
evils which are entailed upon society, in con-
sequence Of there being so many persons ell
gagged in this drug and apothecary business.
who are utterly ignorant of the true nature
purposes. peculiar appearance. and effects of
the various articles and medicines which
they daily deal out. All reasonable
men will agree that an evil so mOnsirously
dangerous should not be suffered 10 exist;
and il is the interest-not 10 say duty-of
every man. woman and child, TO use their
best exeriions for lis suppression.
Tie man who will engage 10 Il business
which lac does not understand, aud that. one
wherein his ignorance is lable &c every mo-
ment to prove fatal to human life, must, TO
speak in The milde,t possible terms, be cul
pably regardless Of the health and existence
of his fellow creatures. An apOihecary
should thoroughly understand his business
before he is permitted TO publicly practice j..
inlnGst Of the countries IN Europe, they are
compelled 10 study through an apprentice
ship of seven years, and then passa rigid ex-
animation before they can do so. To this
we are utterly opposed. We ore in favor Of
mr. fip hoo ffia ofc rfff
zens from the death-dealinr tinkering OF uu-
scrupulous quacks, hut we are irrevocably
opposed 10 prescribing any particular meth
Cd or length of time, in which, man must
be alone supposed capable by or of acquiring
the required Information.
We care not how, where, or when the nee
essary knowledge has been obtained. so long
as it is POSSESSED. bot we DO contend that a
physician, an apothecarv. an engineer. law
yer, sea captain, aud all other persons whose
Ignorance IS liable at any moment 10 prove
disastrous TO the health, life, liberty, or repu-
tdiiOn OF their fellow creatures, should salts
iactOrly pass an examination before a com
petent and impartial tribunal ere they are
allowed TO ieopardiZe all that those who en-
plry them hold most dear. As the business
OF our apothccares is now conducted, the
best physician may entirely fall at the most
critical point ofa critical disease in produ-
cling the effect which he confidently counted
on, in consequence o, his prescription having
been compounded out OF inferior or adullera-
/ ted medicines, or such us from which the
power and vitality had almost entirely eva
porated. Ii is not enough, that an indivdu-
al TO be competent apOihecary. must know
the names, smell and appearance oil his drugs.
and even that is far more than uine-tcnths OF
them kuew how, but he should also be Il
I good practical chemist and laiinist. and be
thoroughly couversant with phafTacy.-
\ Until some legal enactment, covering the
whole ground is passed, we should like 10 STE
a Board OF competen, persons selected by The
faculty, whose duty it should be TO examine
all apothecaries making voluntary applca-
ton. and TO grant certificates to such as were
found competent.
a moderate fee from each applicant would
compensate for tie services rendered and q
published list once a month or so. containing
the names, aud places of business, of all thus
approved, would soon compel every one en-
gagged in the business TO either shut u, shop
or qualify hinselfto pass the required ordeal
as no person would be so insanely reckless a:
TO run the risk Of being poisoned, when, even
by travelling q half mile out of his way. he
knew lie could avoid II 10 Il certainty. Thi.
is reform which has long been needed, anl
II is one which we hope to see speedily car
RED out.-lN y. URirerse.