Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-02-07
Drugs and Medicines.

A bill is now IN the Legislature of
this State for the purpose Of regulat-
ing the sales of medicines and poisons,
and preventing the adulteration Of
drugs and medicinal Preparations
We are not acquaited with the specific
manner in which these points are pro-
posed toSe reached by the bill in quos.
tion. But that they should be reach.
ed no one will doubt who has had ex-
pcrience 10 the manner in which med
ieines are sold, and drugs and medi.
cinal preparations adulterated in this
city. In many Of the drug stores
young men and boys are intrusted
with the compounding of prescriptions
and sale Of poisons, who have little or
no knowledge Of the various articles
called for, and hence mistakes are of
frequent occurrence. Those which
result in the death Of the persons for
whom the drugs are intended, como
to the public eye and are commented
upon. But there are hundreds of cases
where the giving of wrong medicine
undermines the health of patients
These are not reported. Poisons too
are handled by uninstructed youths,
aud that more deaths do not occur
from that cause is a wonder, when all
the facts are considered. The law
SHOULD prevent tho proprietors Of drug
stores from allowing men TO compound
prescriptions and dispense drugs until
they were prepared for such a highly
responsible post by some satisfactory
examination. Physicians must study
long and hard, and undergo rigid
examination before they are allowed
TO practice. Why should not those
who put up the prescriptions OF these
men be compelled to understand what
they are doing? This whole matter
has been fully considered in New
York and law passed, establishing a
"Board for the examination of aud
licensing druggists and prescription
clorks in the city OF New York. -
This Board was organized in Juno
ast, the Iour gentlemen composing it
bearing high professional reputation,
and in July last commenced eXamina.
tons. Their duties have been arduous
and delicate, and they have Just sub.
mltted their report of operations for
the six months ending December
2l, 1871, The Board has examined
and passed three hundred and six
druggists and three hundred and sixty
clerks, TO each of whom a properly
certified diploma has boen awarded.
or the clerks two hundred and twenty
three passed on the first examination;
ninety.two were successful on their
second essayal; sixty who were re.
jected on first examinations, failed 10
appear for second trial, and forty
five who have never appeared for ex-
animation, we suppose, may lie pre-
sumed to have "quit the business" as
it would be illegal for them longer to
continue in IL. The Board estimates
that there are "about | 900 persons
engaged in putting up prescriptions
in New York, of whom about two
hundred IN all, including proprietors,
had failed to appear for examination,
This is the manner in which the peo-
pie of New York have sought to pro-
tect health and life from the mistakes
and blunders of Incompetent handlers
and venders of drugs and medicines,
and the path thus marked out may be
considered with prof, and advantage
by our Legislators at this session,
when they have under consideration
the same subject. Philadelphia Age.
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