New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-31
THE EXAMINATION or DRUG CLERKS.

LEGISLATION Ar ALBANY-OPP0SITI0N OF TEE
THE DRUGGISTS.
A bill providing for the licensing OF drug
clerks has boon introduced into tho State Legislature by
Mr. Irving Of New-York While the druggists claim that
well considered measure, having for It's object the
prevention Of the compoundng OF drugs by incompe-
tent persons would receive their cordial support the bill
Of Mr. Irving meets with their dlsapprova They claim
that first place. 1t will not answer the purpose Tor
which It Is framed and secondly that 1t rnsos ques
ton OF professional etiquette between physcians and
druggists The two principal sections are the nrSt anu
fourth. The first section enacts That =,
The Mayor and CoHmoDa Of the CITY Of NerYs a.. hereby
directed to appoint within ninety days amer a pg M ,n na "
SD Mayor Commonay Examining Board for the
a. ceGes SV .Sy Of he druggists Of aid city They designate
SS OF S sT-S se sy' ~ B seSaT The. a s give
writing under The seal Of the C Of 70 sIeh peons
The fourth section enacts that
sh the duty Of said Board 70 examine application 81 rs
employed hereafter to be employed clerks sny OF e 9rns
ton 20 sny person found competent capacity Of druggists
aud which ,ha be deemed license to engage in such employ
Tho great,obiection to such arrangement rs that
ests that could sufficient number OF OF
high standing DO found competent to form the proposed
the office would interfere with their private practice.
Druggists frequently correct the prescriptions OF py
ton too has side issue which Is highly detrimental TO
the public interest 1t renders the druggist end his as
il a druggist pass examination before board
OF physicians he has strong incentive TO work 10 Their
interest An old custom prevailed among drnggstS o.
paying rs per cent to physicians on oil prescriptions sen
to their stores About IL years ago thls system was
broken up and the public got the benefit In lower p1eoS
few ycars ago bill OF somewhat similar character
duced British Parliament but t defeated on
the druggiss representations Of the necessity OF Keep
ing the professions entirely distinct Moreover mo bl
provides only for the examination or clerks ana asSs
ants not Of principals and makes no provision whAovor
for the education OF apprentices Under ~ grocer,
baker butcher may purchase the good Will OF drug
business and IL on, without knowing anything
whatever about its details. -,
1t further claimed that nearly all tho accidents w1lch
have happened from the improper comounding OF ruks
have been caused by careeSsnesH not by ncopeVency
ccp through the careessness of the physician In
writing the prescription - those committing the error
could have passed any examination before any boaIn
such the proposed Moreover, the action OF mr.
Iryngs bill is to be confined to NewYork City III Is
useful measure why should IL not be enforced through
the Statef In the country districts where business
comparatvely small there IL much more temptation 10
employ incompetent assistants than here and the great
est danger Is TO DO feared in these country districts
The Pharmacy act OF Canada, passed In 1865 would
pear to meet than the bill now before the
Legislature at Albany. Its frat section says: 49,
the first day Of July 1862 II shall lie unlawful TOT
any person sell Keep open shop for sng dTens or com
or Chtms' or Druggist Pharmacist, Apohecary Dis
pepng Chemi. or Druggist part Of the province Of onisno
such his account In partnership
other person before the passing Of this act
Tho provides for the formation or society OF
druggists to called "The Pharmaceutical Society or
Ontario" before which person wishing to practice s
druggist is to pass examination section ~ enacts
that " ANY person registered under this ACT ana no
other shall lie entitled 10 be styled Pharmaceutical
Chemist and shall he authorized to dispense all prescrp
tons OF legally authorized medical practioneerS The
oath section provides penalty OF $50 and costs Tor the
first violation Of the act SO and costs for every sub
seQuent violation.