The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-22
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 1872.

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 1872
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Lately there have appeared in several Of the pa.
pers IN this city some few notices concerning the
druggists and drug clerks. 1t is subject that the
public should be more fully posted than they are
as none in the community ore not interested In it.
The Legislature Of this state passed law last SEES
sion authorizing the appointment Of Board OF Elk.
animation for the druggists aud drug clerks for the
city OF New York. The appointment OF this Board
was c0nfded to the Mayor OF the city, and most
excellent and unexceptonal selection he made
The gentlem en- who accepted the onerOus positions
are:-Professor Doremus, TheoDald Frowhein, VIII
liam Graham and G. NJ. O'Leary, with LOUIS G.
Branda as secretary. Certainly the public cannot
deny the competency Of the four first named gen.
,emen who composed the Board Of Examination in
the different branches necessary for an applicant to
be fitted as a dispenser OF drugs NO one can
doubt that the Board is composed or as high talent
as any in the city. As soon as the Board was
organized and the druggists and drug clerks
were noii1ed Of tho fact and the time
appointed lor the examination to take place
nos and nassea the
examination imposed upon them. These gentlemen
so examined have now their certificates authorizing
them to sell drugs under the provisions OF the law.
In the hands OF any OF these ID safe for the public
to entrust the compromising OF their prescriptions,
and these are the ones VINO should be protected py
There is, however an attempt being made by
number OF persons In the same business who have
either ialle1 to pass the required examination or
were doubtful n they could pass or not and
others who, for some reasons best known to
themselves were prejudlced against the law,
that have petltioned the Legislature to repeal the
law OF March "a, 1871, and substitute another, which
Will have the ten dency Of Keeping IN the profession
large class Of incompetent persons and perpetu-
atng that immense quantity OF ignorance which
thus law was framed for the purpose OF Kidding the
profession or 1t Doubtless will appear TO the
readers OF this article that nasmuch as upwards OF
half the druggists and drug clerks came forward and
were examined, paid the tax imposed upon them OF
$50 and $40 respectively, That the other half must
nave had some good reason which was IN all proba-
blity, to say the least, very questionable knOwl.
cage or the business. Every one has occasion TO
trust himself 10 the apotnecary more or less often,
and when we consider how slight mistake could
Drlng GRIEF IN family, 1t would seem that 10 keep
the law In force would be universal desire.
Inc examination, moreover, OF the Board,
although sufficiently thorough to insure com.
pelent men alone the DISPENSING OF drugs,
su IL was not OF that rigid nature
TO exclude men who had devoted some attention 10
the study OF their proiession and not only this, but
when an applicant presented himself and found
unable 20 pass he was notified OF the fact, and also
OIL the particular branch III which he failed, and
gwen thirty days to study upon what he was def
cient, and requested 10 appear again. In addition
TO these DR.. Doremus offered free admission To his
lectures on chemistry TO aid them In the prosecution
OF studies so necessary to the pharmaceutist.
ONE WHO HAS PASSED THE BOARD.