The New York herald., 1871-12-24
DRUGS AND DRUGGISTS.
How the New Drug Clerk Law Was
Carried Out.
Seven Hundred Applications for Licenses and
Over Twice the Number OF Examination
Value of Competent Apothecaries-
System in Europe-Tae New York
College Of Pharmacy
OF the Commission.

for the examination Of druggists and prescription
clerks was organized. During that period tney
arranged a pharmaceutical laboratory, Ia which
the practical examinations were made by the Com
missioners in tnat department.; also collection ol
materla medlca appliances, samples OF plants
seeds ana salts for the Commissioners having
charge-Messrs. Graham and Frohwein. separate
room was also provided for the examination OF ap-
plcants In Latin prescriptions for Professor Leary
In the same building, o secretary's apartment
as well as reception room being also furnished.
In the department. or chemistry the Commission
ers availed themselves oil the extensive laboratory
and library or Professor Doremus, President or the
Board. AS all the foregoing were already provided
no expense devolved on The county. The cxamina-
tion IN the various departments has been as prac-
tical as possible, and any one may readily COM
prenend,
LABOR or EXCEEDING DELICACY,
when It is considered tnat many OF the druggists
have been forty and fifty years In the business.
Beyond all doubt the examination or druggists and
prescription clerks has involved an amount OF
labor which has never before been performed in
any city. Within o space OF six months most
OF the druggists and prescription clerks In the
metropolis nave appeared, not only for single, but
in some cases for two and three examinations.
Those least prepared have been induced to attend
the lectures at the College OF Pharmacy, which, at
the suggestion Of the Commissioners, were com.
menced earlier than usual In the season. The
course OF
LECTURES ON PoIsONs
at Bellevue hospital Medical College was also
thrown open Tree OF expense, to the druggists and
CLERKS The CommNsloners express themselves
greatly delighted at the lmpr ovement exit.
the younger druggists who had undergone
the course o. instruction for the past
lew months. The entire number OF druggists
thus Tar examined Is 3l4, ana the number OF pre-.
scrlption clerks $50, making in all 594 OF that mum.
ber great many succeeded in passing the requisite
examination ana obtained tneir censes; but those
VINO Jailed to do so were, or course, allowed the
privilege to read up ana again present themselves.
But according TO the terms Of the law, ali persons
putting up prescriptions IN future without license
from the Board run the risk OF
FINE OR IMPRISONMENT,
or both. II Is understood, moreover, that the
penalty VIII !, IN every every case De enforced me
oil druggists ana clerks arriving here from otner
cities on application can be examined, and,
Now ss will ! oe ne o" M
really be a great protection TO the accomplished
druggists and prescription clerks, besides being
that ior winch the law was made-a certain safe
guard TO the pubnc. up 10 the present time any
person haa The right to attempt putting up
petency to do the importance OF such guar
dianshlp has been iet aud acted upon IN Europe
THOROUGH PR PARAToRY STUDIES
are demanded and examinations made both at the
commencement Of the clerks career as Wen as
instance before the mdentures can be drawn up
the candidate must be examined III several
Latin autiiois, including Horace, Virgil ana 5allust
as well Us III Greek, The seleclions generally being
from Aenophons Anabasis aud the Testament, 10.
geLher with algebra and the six books OF Eucld-not
that each OF these studies would be particularly
ylceaole IN putting up prescriptions, It indicates
ectua deVeopmen ia serving his ne as an
apotnecary the apprentice IS Obliged TO attend lec-
lures and then pass a severe examination prior 10
being fully licensed. Medical men doubtless appre-
cate the value OF TINS examination, as II tends to
OF druggist to that ol profession, and therefore
greater althfulness In accurately llllng the pre-
scfipti0ns may be expected; for II doctor has
da.noscci his case, ana, at The result ol his ex.
pcrence, writes The prescription, he has to do
druggist clerk for It's ulnlment since he probably
never sees The prescription, anu even Il he did,
would be unaolc perhaps 10 make the chemical
analysis so as to determine Its accuracy. Every
indlvidua IN the city Is deeply Interested IN this.
Tor II az any time attacked by disease though lie
may have Tie combined judgment OF the best medi
cal men OF the metropolis, stll ne has 10
RELY on THE ArorHEcAEY
for the proper performance OF his duty, and per-
haps for the salvation OF his life. In fact, the
SCIENCE OF medical treatment depends to very
large extent upon the drug maker and the drug
dispenser. The Zee that has been charged the drug
gst Ior hls license IS the same rs Is asked III other
medical colleges from the graduates in medicine
the charge for the prescription clerks having been
reduced to $40 Tor each license which OF course
never requires 10 be repeated. But little complaint
be m;rde cn the score OF excessive charge, Tor
II the fec were reducedto tie nominal sum OF ono
become lowered in The eye OF the receiver
From inquiries made ii would seem that the mem.
in ru m ,1 cerps Whose anrs ~ mosy cn
mence at seven O'Clock IN the morning and do not
end before eleven O'Clock AT night, sundays not
ceptcd, wlth perhaps, ono evening III The week Ior
THE DRUG CLERKS COMPLAIN
that time Is not afforded them 10 attend lectures at
the College Pharmacy, inetr abors being 30 great
thal ney caunot properly :, pursue their
tho part OF the druggist not only TO
give instruction 10 his clerk or his apprentices, but
TO anord hiin opportunity TO attend Instruction at
the University. Out hen, again. the salaries Of the
drug clerks here arc comparatively small, ana not
so that they eau scarcely afford the expense OF u
collegiate course, even where they have tile oppor
tunty 10 attend. Some OF
TIE niGIl.MlNDED DRUGGISTS
OF this city, II appears Gave not ONLY given their
clerks the OPPORTUNITY to attend lectures but gen-
The popular Impression that the dispensing
OF drugs aud medicines by retail IS exceed
ngly lIontable Is an error; not because tnat
The PROFITS from single prescriptions are not large
but because the number OF prescriptions is small,
while Il great deal OF time Is rcquaed IN their pre-
paralion. Ia Germany tho druggist Is protected by
law, only limited nuinpcr being ALLOW ed hencc IN
most OF The establishments here druggists have to
look Tor their support IN the sale ol other articles
than those properly belonging to the business OF an
concerning licenses has been Of great benefit 10 the
College Of Pharmacy now In existence over forty
years. 1t would seem that the attendance OF stu
dents this season has been treble that OF any pre-
cedIng enc. Indeed, 1t Is to DC hoped tnat before
long that institution, may boast Of Its proper.
college building, with us chemical laboratory, its
practical pharmacy, as well as It's suitable
lecture room Although the SIX months
allotted by law Tor the examination OF
druggists and prescription clerks to obtain their
licenses ended yesterday, the Board, permanently
constituted as II is, VIII continue to examine appli
cants in the rooms set apart Tor that purpose in the
right wing OF Professor Doremus' house, and all
persons dispensing drugs henccforth without the
requisite license Wall run the risk Of incurnng the
penalty. Looking at what has Jeen accomplished
witnin q comparatively brief period the COM
mlssioncrs have certainly aborei with great
assidulty and with an evident determination TO
carry cut the grand object contemplated by tho
law.