The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-19

MAJ rhvvriens, wke have disco vered that
when particular articles are compoun ded in
definite quantities they are remedies for differ
ent diseases are 10 the habit Of using cipher,
which, when placed on q small piece Of paper and
delivered to the patient or his or her friends, is
directed TO be presented in particular drug
store. The cipher Is used for the purpose OF
concealinq from the patient the names and guam
titles of the articles which constitute the COM
pound. and also to conceal from any rival physi-
clan, who might subsequently be called In to At
tend the patient, the nature Of the medicine
which is prescribed. The druggist Is In league
with the physician, and never communicates TO
outsiders what is ordered. When the cipher Is
presented, the druggist or his prescription clerk
turns TO the cipher in the private prescription
book. and he finds there exactly what is called
for. But q new or an inefficient clerk would
readily make a mistake, because he might not be
aware that the words had privately oeen agreed
upon to be a cipher, or he might make mistake
through carelessness or stupidity and 1t IL q
well established fact that in the drug business,
many of the clerks ore poorly paid, and even
then overworked. and that when the COM
pensation /, not liberal enough for the work re-
quired, II doe. not command the services Of one
who is the most skilful The words "finet opii
oorpf ;" which we're used by DR.. HurcHIssoS Of
Brooklyn and that went TO the drug clerk GoRE,
who made a mistake which resulted In Mrs.
BARvARD's death, were a cipher; but had the
doctor distinctly written out what 1t was that he
intended Mrs. DAgSARD should have, no mistake
could readily have occurred. Tiad opti
comDt )" particularly in writing closely, resembles
"nad opi Il camp" and in the furry which
sometimes is inseparable from rapidly transact.
| ing business when there ore many impatient
! clstomers waiting TO get what they need, the
druggist, or any of his clerks might put up pare.
goric and camphor. In the American Dspen-
satory and PhsrmacopGia there are public eiphers
which are commonly used by physicians when
they write a prescription for patient. These
ciphers are Objectionable, because no ciphers Of
| the kind are absolutely necessary. They are a
| means by which INSCRIPTIONS druggists can
charge enormously for almost costless articles.
Private cphers for prescriptions should be
strictly prohibited by law. If physicians who
have discovered valuable compounds Of medi
cines that will cure diseases, are determined 10
| individually retain the income which that know
| ledge brings let them take out patents for their
compounds.
| A distinguished physician has assured us that
the ciphers in the Dispensatory, copy of which
all druggists are supposed to have in their estab-
| lshments, are necessary, because the profession
frequently prescribe large quantity Of distilled
| water and some harmless article TO be mixed
This is taken by the patient who has faith in its
curative power. The eminent practitioner did
not assure us that the physicians charges fol
their services are less when they prescribe sugal
and water than when they have to administer
| more serious remedies.