The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-23
The Drug Dispensing Business.


The Drug Dispensing Business.
1t Is not by any means comfortable rehec-
ton that in the present state of the drug busi-
ness the skill of the physician may be rem
dered useless by the ignorance of the dispens-
ing chemist, and that the dose which was
meant to save may be the direct cause of
death. Surely it is enough that the unfortu-
nate citizen should be exposed to the possible
ignorance of a ''Dr. Sangrado" in disguise
without having his chances of being cut off
from this pleasant world of sunshine increased
by the objectionable ignorance of the dabbler
in compounds.
In this free country every one has SO much
the right to do just as he pleases that the
enterprising Yankee sees no reason why he
should not hang out an apothecary's single
just in the same manner and with as little
restriction as he would run out BARRIERS
pole. For long time the public accepted
this view; but at last the frequency with
which stupid drug clerks managed to sell
deadly poisons in place Of harmless drugs
awakened sense of insecurity that called for
the action of the State Legislature. People
naturally said, If the drug clerks make so
many blunders in the matter Of selling sim
pie drug, the chances are that they make q
great many more when compromising. So
reasonable deduction could not be disproved,
and hence the Legislature Of New York State,
in March last, passed law empowering the
Mayor Of this city to appoint competent
board to examine the fitness Of all persons
engaged in the dispensing of drugs.
This act of the Legislature has given con-
siderable umbrage to existing chemists, and es-
pecially to those among them whose ignorance
makes them fear the ordeal Of examination,
and already they seek to throw obstacles in the
way of the Board. However, public opinion
will sustain the Board In whatever reasonable
steps they may decide upon taking to save US
from the risk of being poisoned by the igno-
rance Of our druggists.
In Europe the dispensing chemist, or apoth-
ecary, is obliged to pass an examination as to
fitness before he is allowed to practise, and
must be furnished with diploma from some
board or institution appointed by the State be-
fore he can hang out his single and minister
to the infrmites of mankind. We see no rea-
son why the American apothecary should be
free from the restrictions which are imposed
in Europe for the safety of the public. No
man should be at liberty to endanger the lives
of the citizens through his ignorance, any
more than by his malice. The respectable
chemists Of this city, we feel assured, think on
this matter as we do, and will give every as
sistance to the Board in wedding out all incom-
petent parties at present engaged in dispensing
medicines.
In Sweden, where the laws relating to the
sale and manufacture of drugs are very
severe, the young asprant to chemical
honors must bind himself for four years to a
dispensing chemist and pass these years
learning practically the rudiments of his pro-
fession. At the end of this term he Is ex-
amined by number of medical men, and, if
considered competent, receives recommends
ton to the Board of Health, who, if they ere
satisfied of the aspirants competency, issue
diploma to him as ''student of pharmacy"
which authorizes him to prepare prescrip-
tions Having worked for couple of years
mora in the laboratory of some established
chemist he enters himself on the list of candi-
dates for admission to the college at Stock
holm, and, If successful in his examination, is
admitted. Here he spends two or three
years in the study of chemistry, and then
presents himself for the ''tentamina, or final
examination, and, if successful receives his
diploma from the Board of Health as full
fedged apothecary.
The difference between this roundabout
way Of acquiring the right to dispense medi-
cines and the off-hand system of simply hang
ing out single is very marked. And with
all our admiration for progress, we confess
decided preference for the slow and sure
method Of the Swedes, rather than the 60
ahead and somewhat experimental system of
the Americans. The requirements of the new
State law are by no means so exacting as to
afford an excuse to those engaged in dispens-
ing drugs for trying to escape from its pro-
visions. If they have the chemical knowledge
requisite to compound drugs, they need have no
fear of standing an examination, and il they
do not possess this sufficient knowledge their
continuance in preparing drugs. to the manifest
danger of the community, is an outrage and a
crime. We hope, therefore, that the newly
appointed Board of Examiners will exercise
the powers conferred upon them by the laws
vigorously in wedding out the ignorant and
incompetent from among the drug dispensers
of the city.
Kuotty Point Settled.
Solicitor Banfield, of the Department of