The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-18
the PRESENT AND PROPOSED DRUG
CLERKS LAW.

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TO Fm EDITOR OF THE HERALD
bill Is at present under consideration before the
Committee on Health In the Assembly having for
double aim che repeal OF last years. law creating
board for the examination OF druggists and their
clerks. and the substitution therefor OF o scheme at
-once disastrous to the interests OF our city and
eminenty hurtful to the progress OF en- important
branch OF the healing art. Nine months ago the
present Board, with Q chemist OF renown at It's
head entered upon its career and abored strenousy
20 weed out from the ranks OF the drug profession
the ignorant and Incompetent. The fair, effective
ana impartial administration OF the law by the gen.
uemen appointed to carry out Its provisions won.
the unanimous approval of the press and the people
and inspired the confidence that at last We were to
be protected against the fatal errors or shop lads
who. after drawing you glass OF soda water, often
impregnated with the salts OF lead and copper,
would rush to make strychnine pills or sell you
ounce of oxallc acid for epson salts. But no con-
scientous work was ever yet accomplished without
opposition, and the cloud no bigger than mans
nst which first darkened the horizon OF the Board
gathered volume and grew darker as, day after day.
the unwecome tidings were borne to proprietor or
clerk that the Commissioners would be pleased to
have another interview with HIM, as the first had
not proved satisfactory. Their opposition at last
found vent In the following fraudulent though Gun.
ningly c0ntrved device:-A jackdaw, trtcked out In
the gorgeous pumage OF peacock, pecked at the
legislative doors, saying, "Gentlemen am the
College OF Pharmacy, to which Institution alone the
administration OF the law regulating pharmacy
should be entrusted" Now 1t Is acknowledged that
the College OF Pharmacy Is useful and venerable
institution but, consisting as 1t does OF the pro-
fessors and the students In actual attendance 1t Is
entirely different from the college OF pharmacy In
the proected law. There exists In New York an
association OF druggists VINO have sought, under the
name OF members OF the College Of Pharmacy" q
oers Of respectsbility which they could not other
wise attain; but when 1t Is considered that the
terms OF admission are four years. experience in
tho business, the annual payment Of Is and the
happy possession OF good moral record 1t Will be
readily seen that the educational standard OF the
sssociatton Is not necessarily very nigh. The pro-
lessons OF the college are not members OF this
society. and but small proportion are
graduates IN pharmacy. Surely the name "C0l-
lege OF Pharmacy" Ia o gross misnomer In
such connection. The effect. therefore, OF the
proposed scheme ould be to entrust the execution
Of the law 10 society which will be commensurate
with the whole body Of druggists In the city OF New
York. just so soon the inducement to have voice
In tho election Of their own examiners will have
drawn them oil TO Its standard. and we snail have
corps Of examiners necessarily servie and depend
ent, their duty shall be 10 examine those to whose
SURFACES The are entiled to their position In Sucn
an event what pledge Will citizens have that II
CONNECT Of interests should arse Uetween them and
the druggists they are first to be considerably And
such CONFLICT ls being continually waged, for MOTH
ing more concerns the public veal tnan that suit.
s able opportunities for study should be furnished
those VINO preparing TO become skilled pnarma.
ceutlss; and yet Inc foremost druggists or this city
are the most formidable bar 10 this end, since the
records Of the present Board contain the names O.
leading men who have refused permission to their
clerks 70 gain that knowledge Without which 1t was
impossible TO OBTAIN license Even Of the pro-
feSs0rs OF the College OF Pharmacy has complained
snss Ssnsass Before hs
we're hall completed to resume work behind
s Cunsr ss the TIL na1 Should stated sma IN
the examiners that they could never hope to pass
an as y SGSa without S
college In this city offered to admit them free Of
charge while the names Of many clerks can be ar;
IN order TO prepare Tor appearance before the Board
II under the pressure OF law these gentlemen have
been so cnary IN a10rdlnR factles Tor education TO
their miscalled law provides, they 'snall transact
practices Of pnarmacy ''AA' ''s % '"'
Il is no fault Of the professors OF the College OF
Pharmacy, men In every instance OF distinguished
abilities. that Its graduates within the last iorty
years a. not exceed Paltry two hundred. me @
80 despcable result bore appropriate fruit in this
latest refusal Or many druggists 10 permit their en-
plOyes 70 auend Lectures, with the view OF prepar.
Ing themselves for examination. The success OF
THIS scheme would be to put premium on law de-
stances men VINO are Migrant vioators or the law.
20 that those VINO have borne the brunt Of battle
searching, viii now reap the reward Of tneir regard
and law Dreasers made the deposlsaries Of most
sacred trust. What guarantee are we 10 have that
such will discharge their important duties im.
partially, what confidence are we ever 70 possess
In the practical utility Of pharmacy Legislation
neY allowed some or the mulInous advocates OF the
new bill would have other ;cupatlon than taking
The leading pnyscians Of the city have pro.
bounced IN favor OF the law as it stands and surely
that sucn men as Hammond, Hamilton. Sayre, Par
ker, Van Buren, Aenscnel, Noyes, Bumstead, James
standing nave recorded their solemn protest against
the proposed cnahge. To the efforts OF the men,
SDsd fore the w aass s Is a5e ~ for
eign drugs for the establishment OF board Of
health. and for Important measures intended to
promote medical education, and the Legislature
should not now neglect to offer them the assurance
that their numerous ana valuable prescriptions,
written Tor the most part to meet urgent emergen-
Giles. shall be entrusted TO none but those who pos
scss proper attestations OF competence Fortunately
majority OF the Committee on Health IN the As
them the people Of New York look for the mainte.
nance OF law on which vital interests depend.
lhe new bill found strong advocacy IN tine Senate,
as the chairman or the Committee on Health-hlm-
mental in drawing up the document Another
Senator had been TOR many years legal adviser to
the .members OF the College OF Pharmacy" and
third Senator, educated rs a wholesale druggist,
probably bv mistake stated, just as the bill was
the existing Board Of Pharmacy nad Withdrawn all
opposition to Its passage. The other Senators-a
bare quUrum-who voted In favor Of the bill did so
Influenced BY the statement Of senator Tiemann,
and not aware OF the cunning failacy which the
name "College OF Pharmacyv cIoaked. It now rests
with the physicians on the Committee on Health In
the lower house. for whose benefit nave exposed
this frand, to hold their professional heritage In
faithful custody and, guided by the light which for
centuries has wisely regulated the practice Of phar
macy under s supervision in foreign
: the other States OF the Union. MEDICUS.
FOREIGN MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
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