The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-17

1t was taken carefully, ms these men, nav
ing the honor of their profession and the
safety of the people at heart, anticipated
the opposition they would have to cncoun-
ter. 1t was recommended to the several
states that laws be passed regulating the
practice Of pharmacy in the same manner
as the practice of other professions. a
difficulty was met at the outset, which we
trust Vermont will steer clear Of namely,
that there were many men who had been
engaged in business for years, whom II was
attempted to lcgislatc out of business. 1t
is doubtful whether any legislative enact
mcnt can require of those individuals, now
IN trade, any further or different qualifica-
tions, than were required when they en-
tered into business. They can regulate the
future: and pharmaccutists themselves
can, moreover, by raising the standard Of
their profession, havlng-as they assurcdly
will hayc--thc hearty support of the res
pcctallc physician, and aided by proper
dissemination Of information am )ng the
people, 50 arrange 1t that we shall be
guarded against authorizations, On the one
hand. and ignorance and quackcry on the
other. We trust that we may be pardoncd
the suggestion, that the matter is in the
hands of the Association, They can so re-
gulatc and control public sentimcnt-aidcd
| by the influences to which we have referred
that incompetent and ignorant persons,
now in the business, may and will be
/ forced out of the business. In order to ac-
compli,l this, however, there must bc a
display, and an actual presence, of moral
courage and ''hack bone" on the part OF
| the association and ITS members. Laws
! aside. or with laws. ii will not do to resolve
/ ami declare, and at the same time, admit
every applicant to membership. 1t is UNI
pleasant. we know, to stand up and say
that an individual is disqualified by ignor-
/ ance, or other cause, and. therefore, he
must not, and shall not. be admitted to our
| fellowship.
There is something, however, above and
beyond all personal feelings in this matter.
| Their own honor, as well as the well-being
| of the community is involved in this mat
ter. How can they reasonably ask of the
legislature to provide for the future unles:
they manfully stand up and establish c
| Just criterion for the present. We trust
and believe that this association may have
something to do and say about those who
| "a 80. Ia
dispensing of drugs and the compromising
of prescriptions, but what weight will theil
decision carry with it. if they have not
now, the moral courage or ''back bone t.
treat every applicant for admission to thei
fellowship justly, both with regard to hi
own qualifications, the honor of the pro
fession and for the safety of the commu
nifty: In looking over the list of prcscn
membership, we cannot say that it con
tains the name OF single individual, wht
il not up to the standard Of the profession
that would not answer the requirements o
the most stringent law, and who is full,
and abundantly qualified to deal in tn
most deadly Of poisons. compound tn
most delicate of prescriptions, and conduct
generally. the whole business Of druggist
apOthccary or pharmaccutst. We yer,
sadly fear, however, that the skilled, con
scientious votary of pharmacy would, upOl
scanning the list of membership, flint
names that ought not to he there name
that would not have been there save tina
other members remained silent for fea
that unworthy motives would bc imputed t
their course, if they opposed their admis
sion. We do not say it is 50. but we fea
that such has been the case and may, III
less self is subordinated to the gcncri
good. continue to be the case. We do nc
intend to cast any reflections upon this al
sociation. Some, we doubt not most, c
its members are learned. studious, scient
fic, conscientious men, and we are prou
to claim some Of them as our chcrishe
friends. The members thereof are human
and are subject 10 human frailties. Othe
professions have suffered from the sam
cause. The law and the rules of the coui
have, seemingly, thrown every possibl
guard around the right to practice in til
courts, so as to secure the intelligence an
integrity of the profession Yet throug
the lack of moral courage on the part G
the committee on examination, and tn
want of power TO say mo when PERSONAL
asked to sign recommendations dishones
ignorant, miserable pretcnders are, yea
after year, sent out to the world with th
endorsement of learned and honorabl
!, profession. The same is true Of medicine
: but in the light Of the experience of thes
many years before them. we trust that tn
, pharmaccutists may put on something c
moral courage, 'stiffen the back bone an
, strike sturdy blows, even if ignoran
carping pretenders shall hiss forth inuer
, does and insinuaiions.
We approach the close OF this discussio
, with something of diffidence. We ma
have made ourself liable to the charge {
, presumption and ignorance, in what W
: have already said, but our motive has bee
t for the advancement Of profession
G whose business extends through all I'll
= ramfications Of physical life, and
: carried on for the common good of IL
e whole country. The Vermont Pharmi
: ceutical Association, which meets at Blu
G lington during the coming week, will gi,
I direction to the matter OF legislation, ant
{ upon this subject, we have word of gu.
3 gestion to make If the association wi
r give the proper tone and direction to IL
: work, we have no doubt but that the legi
| lature will give II form and substance, an
fha xrhnla L., tI,a O..