National Republican., 1885-09-05
THE HOBOKEN TRAGEDY.
Suggestions for Promotion of Safety
from Mistakes In Compromising Pre-
scriptions.


from Mistakes In Compromising Pre-
scriptions.
New York Tribune.
The lIoboken's druggists fatal mistake
has been explained only too easily. When
the prescription for the quininc was handed
to him several loungers were in the store,
and a brisk conversation went on while he
was preparing the medicine. His attention
being distracted, he took the morphine jar
from the shelf IN place of the quinine As
the two substances are not unlike in APP
pearance, he did not discover the mistake
while he was mixing the powders. His
mind was not concentrated on his work,
since he was interested In the talk of his
acquaintanccs and took an active share in
It, lie had the reputation of being Il pains
taking druggist, and his desperate attempt
to take his own life and his present de-
mented condition attest the genuineness of
his remorse. Two lives have been brought
to n most melancholy end and happy home
has been darkened by the shadow of Il
most distressing sorrow In consequence of
the chatter that took the druggists mind
off his work.
This painful episode ought to serve the
useful purpose of warning druggists against
the fatal consequences of inattention and
careessness In their business. Drug stores
by common consent Of the proprietors and
the public are regarded as convenient
lounging places. The cigar counter Is one
of the attractions the soda water and min
eral water stand is another; and there is Il
marked tendency on the part of people who
are waiting for street car or killing little
spare time to favor these shops with their
presence. The druggist himself, being
more closely occupied with his business than
men generally are, encourages social inter
course with his customers and acquaint-
ances. lie Is forced to keep his shop open
night and day, and Sundays MS well as week
days. Naturally he finds confinement irk-
some and is pleased to have his friends con-
slider him socable fellow. lie likes to
have them come In and chat with him. 1t
is his only chance of finding out what Is go
ring on. Not infrequcntly the conditions of
! the IIobokcn tragedy are repeated. The
prescription is made out when there Is
noise, confusion, and II rattling fire of con
versatiOn in the shop.
Careful druggists will agree that prr-
dcncc requires that every precaution should
| be taken by them to guard against mistakes.
| In all well-conducted stores the prescrip-
tion department is out of sight, and the
| clerk protected from interruption when he
is compoundng medicines This is an eN-
/ cellent practice from which there should be
no departure. No pains should be spared
to screen this department from observa-
tion, to prevent access to 1t from without,
and to render conversation with the pre-
scription clerk impracticable. A sign eau
tioning the public not to disturb the clerk
when he is filling prescriptions would not
be out OF place. Indeed II would Wooli
professional as Mr.. Bob Sawyer would
have said Another wise precautiOn that
may be taken Is the separation of all
deadly poisons and dangerous drugs from
the ordinary stock. If certain section OF
shelving be reserved for these the risk OF
mistake will be lessened, In no well-regu
lated store will the quinine and morphine
! lars be found side by side