The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-04
NO. 81
Communications.

To The Druggists and Physicians of Stauaton
1t has become custom here, as elsewhere.
Tor druggists TO prescribe for patients and refill
prescriptions, without orders from the nrescrih-
ing physician, and for physicians to command
in many instances their own prescriptions both
OF which is radically wrong as will be annarent
to any rejecting mind. Let u.s. for n moment
consider the reasons assigned for these THINGS
and the preiudicial influences to the best inter
est of the community and profession one drug
glSt Will tell you he compelled to prescrihe or
his customers will go to another druggist who
Will prescribe, and consequently he loses not on-
ly the prescription, sbut the customer. Another
Will say only prescribe for those not able to nav
tne physician. Another says or thinks if he
sends the patient to physician, the prescrip-
ton Will go to some other druggist. And stir
another will say it is only slight cold or some
thlng simple, and gives one OF his proprietary
medicines for coughs &c. There are many 9TH
er reasons given to justify their course In an
swer to the frst,I would say let the patients nm
derstand by concert of action with each other
That you Will not prescribe, and this class will
De gotten rld OF without subjecting you to the
unpleasantness OF refusing. To the 2nd-tell
them physician is employed by the city to at
tend to their Affections, and to him they can 90
without compensation for services or medicine.
To the Bird, Iwould reply that if YOU send a pa
t1ent to any physician it is more than probable
ne VIII bring the prescription to the one who
senI MIN, and eight times out of ten will pay
The druggist more than il he prescribed, To the
4th, would answer that some of our most seri-
Gus diseases seem at first simple. and the dam
ger is not so much from the remedy IA the loss
OF important time in the treatment, BY way OF
Illustration, Will cite a case that actually oc-
currSu IN inns town. A gentleman's child had
cough which seemed to be only bad cold He
Went 10 a druggist and told him his child had
pau coid with cough, and he wanted him to give
something for it; the druggist gave him a Vial
OF his cough mixture with directions how to use
u. IN confidence he used the mixture as direc-
Ied Ior Two days, without benefit and then sent
for a physician The physician, upon examina-
non, found the child suffering with pneumonia
child died the next day Here was Important
Time lost, and the physician had to assume all
responsibility to the public, as the druggist was
| IN ANS arfi ion
every physician in the town has had similar
responsibilities to assume in prescribing after
tent. f
In regard to physicians compromising their
prescriptions, am satisfied no physician does
thls through choice, but is forced to it by the
druggist who refills his prescriptions without
orueTs, ana by this means a half dozen cases are
c!eaeeu Win one prescription, In fact, no ply
slclan who Is doing much practice can afford to
lake the time to put up his prescriptions, and
druggist No druggist (although a graduate in
medlc1ne) II he devotes his time to his business
% 70 prescribe and no physician Qf
graduate IN pharmacy is competent to COM
pound MS prescriptions, ii he does Justice to his
procession. one is dependent upon and insepa-
Istp1e from tne Other and at t he same time dis
tlncG In all the performances of their duties-
NO physician should be willing to assume the
treated by druggist, and no druggist, am sure,
would be willing TO assume the responsibility
9 rL med nc compounded by the physician
1nen let us come together and have some
cert OF actlon. 1t is common ground upon
which all can meet. Put aside ali bickerings
ehinlty and prejudices of the past, one towards
the other, and act in harmony for our own good
b. p REESE.
MR. EDITOR Il think we may justly congrat-
ulate the citizens of Augusta on the ACQUISITION,
aI last, OF Superintendent of her public schools
VINO not only appreciates the responsibilities OF
his high position, but is resolved to carry out
Iuily those salutary principles of the new regime
which all who are Interested in hail as consfitu-
III QHn
in This State.
For long time, the educational interest of
augusta mas languished under the ban of official
carelessness, to say the least. keen insight
INTO, ana vigorous disposal OF details, are in
rsp @ yet how glaringly they have hth-
eFto oeen neglected, let the ruinous condition
OF the school houses in this District mutely tes-
lily as well as the beggarly requirement of the
scnool children to furnish every indispensable
aFtice OIL daily use in the schools, from the fuel
s WHEN was TO warm them, to the drinking cups
rom which to allay their thirst
WIN no desire to reflect harshly upon the eX-
telie IN, sentlemen VINO have hitherto pointed
s IN destlnles OF our free schools yet it cannot
De denied that not only have the school houses
themselves been permitted to 90 to wreck. in
size ana out, inclusive of their furniture as
Well, but there they stand as they have stood
all the time, grim, desolate and for6iddinS of as
peStt, Win In, no ehclosure-open to the invasion
OF NOES ana cattle night ana day and not treeto
feneVe, py It's shadow, the glare of the sun in
summer, and OF the dismal winter snow
NOW, sir, contend that there is absolutely
no economy in such neglected nakedness as this
And what better use can be made Of n nortion
OF the surplus school fund than in the article OF
puts ioI tnese houses Interest and co1te1lt1aent
are mighty factors in the progress of children at
school. The more comfortable they are in their
seats, ana the brighter and more cheerful the
aspect OF thelr surroundings, the more we may
expect from them of progress in their Studies
Children are by nature aesthetic and tasty ar
engagements around them are always conducive
to their happiness. 1t is hard enough on them
to be confined for tive or six hours a day, in a
great big school room, the appointments OF
which haYe been arranged as suitably to their
taste and comfort as circumstances will admit
of and how much worse must it be for them to
be confined SO long in dreary cheerless monot-
onous and frequently atnaUh0tesOnle houses, such
as the children ,Of this District have been ac-
customed to. Now, the houses to be put in
order and enclosed by suitable fencing and
shade trees planted at the proper season.
From what the writer has seen and knows of
the gentlemen composing the new local Board
Trustees of North River District, and es-
pecially of our excellent Superin tendent,
whose official counsels the writer has been per-
mitted to share to some extent, The is glad to
feel assured of a "new departure being speedi-
ly inaugurated in behalf of our schools, and an
enlightened and vigorous policy pursued, not
only in literal execution of the laws, but as re-
CARDS matters of minor detail, yet of great i'm
portance in the aggregate, to the successful adj
ministration of our school system, and to the
enhanced comfort, pleasure and encouragement
OF patrons, pupils and teachers of our public
schools.
The writer has also had the pleasure of attend
ing two official meetings of the Board of Trust
tees recently, at as many school houses of his
District, in one of which he was an active part
cipant, and was fOrcibly impressed by the foren-
sic power and exquisite tact displayed by Super
intendent Roller in the satisfactory disposal of
alleged grievances betwiX patrons and teach
ers, in reconciling discordant elements at first
view appearing to be wholly and irremediably
repressiVe of their entente corIidLe and estab-
fishing, by power of reasoning, and lin no slight
degree) by force OF his own Characteristic firm
ness and amiability. order and harmony out OF
jealous and angry demonstration. In this way
especially, as in many others, Superintendent
Roller is admirably calculated to do a vast
amount of good during his administration fol
"a house divided against itself cannot stand
and it is all important for the welfare and efii-
cheney of our public schools, that there be nc
miserable dissensions. but cordial good under
standing, between the teachers and patrons
thereof. l. for one, trust that such may result
from the present benign administration.
IATROS.