The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-10-22

The correspondence below is published
IN order that the public may understand
our position in the matter of prescribing
and redlling unfortunately the prescrip,
tons on our files. We will only add, that
if the members Of the medical profession of
Cairo can be bought our business and
social relations with them have never
developed the fact. Respectfully,
BARCLAY Bros.
October 10Th, 1882
COPY
CAIRO, ILL, Sept ~, 1882.
Mcssre Barclay Broe,
GENTLEMEN -; Recognizing the fact that
there is to a certain extent mutual de.
tendency existing between the professions
Of pharmacy and medicine, and feeling
thata better understanding of the functions
and duties of the two professions should
be recognized and adhered to, we of the
medical profession OF Cairo object to TIE
frequent habit of druggists of this city, of
diagnosing diseases and prescribing medi,
cines, for the following reasons;
f'lrst-The science Of pharmacy does not
include knowledge Of the science OF med
icine.
Second-Your violating the eMedcal
Practice Act by so dong aud ro6bing the
physicians OF their legitimate business.
Third-You are practicing deception
upon the sick; therefore we ask you to adj
here to the law covering the practice Of
medicine.
Another grievance to which we respect.
fully ask your attention, is the matter of re-
filling prescriptions without the authority
OF the physicians who have written them.
The above practice is injurious to both
patient and physician; the patient often
suffering from the effects of improper medi.
cine, and the physician because he is prac-
held responsible for the action OF medicine
he did not prescribe.
Again, we hold that the original owner
of the prescription lose, his ownership as
soon as it is once filed anc placed on
flle, and that be has no right to demand
that it be taken from the file, and be relilled
except on the order of the prescribing ply
stefan. We therefore ask you to discontinue
the practice.
After due deliberation, we the under
signed members Of the Medical Associa-
tion OF Cairo have resolved not to patronize
directly or indirectly any druggist who
shall alter this date be known to prescribe
for any one requiring this services of a
physician, or who shall refill or duplicate
prescription without the verbal or written
authority of the physician. Respectfully,
W. X. SMITH, Pres. j &. SULLIVAN, V. z.
G. G. PARKER, Sec'y, j. j. GORDON, J. IL.
BRYANT, &. W. DUNNING, -. Ill. PARKER.
j. s, PETE.
CAIRO, Ills, Sept. 30, 1882.
Dr. G. G.. Parker, sec'y;
DEAR SlR-We Rave your favor Of 9th
inst. covering proceedings of "The Medical
Association of Caro- relative to the "habit
of druggists diagnosing and prescribing,
and the retiIbng Of prescriptions In re.
gard to the former we heartily concur in
the reasons set forth and have always de.
precated the habit Still emergencies
may arise when humanity would dictate
violation Of the strict letter of law, and
we feel assured that your society will ap-
prove OF any acts Of ours under such cir
cumstanCes.
While approving also the suggestion in
regard to reGlling prescriptions aud assur-
ing your society Of our purpose 10 comply
with its request, still cases may arise when
we must exercise some discretion. la all
such instances, however, we are perfectly
willing to notify the physician
We would respectfully suggest that as
this is an innovation upon an old estab.
lished custom in this city, your society or
its members acqualnt your patrons and the
public of the change, thereby sharing with
us the task Of pscifying those who do not
understand or appreciate the situation,
Respectfully yours,
q BARCLAY Bros.