Eastern times., 1855-05-10

| The first section Of the act reads s'The term
| intoxicating liquor used in the act means and
includes EVERY LIQUID PREPARA-
TION that will produce intoxication." Now
it is known that in physiological classihca-
tions of medicine there are divisions called In
toxicants or inebriating- -paralyzing stupeh-
clients. To these divisions alcohol enters In
the preparation of the liquids to large ex-
tent, and they comprise some OF the most COM
| mon medicines in use. Taken to excess many
of them produce intoxication of the worst
kind. 1t is clear, then, that by the law,
which explains the term liquor to mean ''erery
LIQUID PREPARATION that will produce in
toxicaton,' an apothecary has no right to al
low poor victim of sudden disease TO drink
tincture of rhubarb or any other medicine
where alcohol enters largely or to any extent
in the preparation Of the liquid, on his prem
ises or to be carried away to be used else
where, without subjecting himself to fine of
months! Wonder if the editor of the Tribune
has actually read the law! We copy again
the first paragraph of this ridiculous fourth
section =
i" No apothecary or druggist shall keep or
use any SUCH LIQUORS for any other purpose
than the preparation of medicines ordered by
physician of sober life and not addicted to
the use of intoxicating liquors, whose name
shall be subscribed TO the prescription to be
put up or prepared by such druggist or apoth-
ecary, in his own shop; and he shall not suf-
fer any SUCH LIQUOR 10 be drank on his prem
ises, or to be carried away to be used else
where.'
The law says "such liquors" mean "eUery
liquid preparation that intoricates'-the Tri-
bune says not the medicine, the rhubarb or ipe-
cac, prepared with alcohol, which the apolhe-
cary may sell as much as he pleases, but
liquors. Here is clashing among the max
ers and abettors of this wonderful law. Who
shall decide when such Solons disagree! 1t
is really singular tha; the greatest sticklers
for the law, should give its provision such a
liberal signifcaton that Holland gin as a
medicine under Mr.. Wolfe's term of schnapps
can go as smooth as juniper. Probably the
infection of the liberality of the Massachusetts
nunnery committee has reached Maine.
Again, according to the legal explanation
of our neighbor, the applicant for prescrip-
tion is not to inquire about the habits of the
physician; the apothecary must take care of
that. He is to look out for the physicians
| Laar n lind Of cansor.b;n ovar ,bar, ,nd h.ya
list of who use and who don't use intoxicat-
ing liquors. Prescriptions from the first class
Of course won't go the applicant must then
start on a new track for a prescription from
the second class. Our friends, the apotheca-
ries, will then be obliged 10 keep guage Of
the habits of the physicians. What a day OF
moral light, liberty and glory we live in!
But the closing sentence Of the extract from
the Tribune explains the whole matter sa,is-
factorily. The la,U is to be construed By its
friends The jury-boxes are to be filled by
the friends of the law, says Neal Dow, and
our neighbor reterates the same Statement
No matter about the Courts, no matter about
the absurdities OF the law-s',ce are the moral
and legal expounders of the age-loe are a
'power-noe can elect your officers without
! your assistance-we can apply and enforce
laws of our own makingr You are the mi
nority-you are nothing 9, Thus it is that
fanatics and midnight conclaves of modern
jesuits are fastening on the reign Of a new
morality, virtue and religion. The day OF
| great things is at hand.
We must obey the laws-possess our souls
in patience-and calmly await the next spasm
ofthe great "Freedom and Humanity" party.