New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-02
REGULATING THE SALE OF POIsoNS.

SENATOR ASTORS BILL APPROVED BY DHUOOiSls
IN NETWORK AND BROOKLYN.
A TRIBUNE reporter called recently upon several
of the leading druggists of this city and Brooklyn
to obtain their opinion OF Senator Astors bill to
regulate the sale of poisons. Alexander Hudnut
said that the feature requiring druggists TO record
every sale of poison and to refuse to make such a
sale except on physicians prescription. unless the
purchaser declared that he intended using it for
Legitimate purpose, is covered by the present law.
The provision requiring bottle box or vessel con-
tanning the poisonous substance to possess some dis
t,nctiye popularity by which ii can 6e distinguished
dnring the day by its appearance and at night by ITS
touch. is a new one in this country he stated and
might in some cases prove of service in preventing
accidents. Any practical law guarding against the
ilIegimate sale of poisons would be heartily
welcomed by respectable druggists.
A Spanish druggist said that in Spain the sale of
poison without physicians prescription was abso-
lutely forbidden. The only exception made was in
the case of farmers who might need il for the pnT-
pose of killing rats or insects ana III such eases the
purchaser must be personally known 10 the drug
elst and leave with hm written order for the aTt-
Gle obtained. In this country great deal OF lat-
tude is given to the discretion OF tne Druggist ana
be-and statement of the purpose for which n ~
intended, he is held legally blameess. He thought
the bill good one, and would be pleased to see 1t
Even MCINTYRE, President of the College of Phar
macy thought such a law must produce some
good results /: II would certainly meet no objection
from druggists He SAID that the Board Of Phar-
macy of which he is member, would be glad to
see any law passed in which an additional safe
guard might be found, but it would be especially
pleased il tine laws already in exist were Ell
forced. According TO them none but licensed
pharmacist is permitted TO open drug store III this
G ty bu. this provision is openly violated, and the
Board finds great difficulty in inducng the District
Attorney to prosecute transgressOrs. vi course
such persons will have little respect for the rules
governing the sale OF poisons. 1t IS also common
for painters TO sell Paris green, favorite poison
among a certain class Of SUICIDES. ,
H. j. Menninger, Brooklyn druggist, said that
the State should have law such as that proposed
by Senator AstOr. At present only New-iork Guy
and Brooklyn possess any laws restricting the
sale OF medicines or posons. Throughout the coun-
try It was customary to find poisons and drugs OF
all kinds for sale in dry goods and grocery stores.
and there was nothing to prevent incompetent per
sons from acting as dispensing pharmacists. The
sale OF Paris green, Gulphate of copper and Oxallc
acid he continued. carried on openly, both IN
New-York and Brooklyn, by painters grocers and
Others An effort had been made in Brooklyn
TO prevent this, and the Board OF Pharmacy had
procured several arrests and intended TO prosecute
the guilty persons. IN this they were seconded by
District-Attorney Catlin, and he hoped to see the
practice broken up. In New-YOIk, however, things
were managed differently, and unless Senator
Astor's bull contained some provision enforcing the
prosecution of offenders he saw little hope OF stop
ming the illegal sale OF posOns. Several other drug
pists we're also visited, and all concurred in the
main with the sentiments expressed above and
hoped that the bill, IL 1t becomes law, wonld
lessen the frequency of fatal accidents caused by