The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-28
DOCTORS WANT LEGISLATION.
Diverse Opinions Arise. Though. as to What
Would Be of Benefit to Their Profession.


"
At the Marion County Medical Society
last night, DR.. Guido Bell presiding. DR..
J~eiries, of the committee on legislation.
reported recommendations in the form Of
resolutions, asking the General Assembly
TO pass certain laws for the regulation of
the practice of med icine. On motion these
recommendations were read. section by sec
ton, each section provoking more or less
comment. The first was to prohibit the sale
of poisons exception prescription OF q physi-
clan. The poisons named with their prep
aratIons We're opium. bslladonns. ~aconite.
arsenic, strychnine. cocaine. chloroform
hydrocyanic acid and cyanide ofpotassium.
This was adopted.
Next came a proposition against the re-
filing of prescriptions by q druggist unless
ordered by the prescribing physician. "Such
a thing expostulated DIR. J.. L.. Thompson.
will bring us into ridicule more than any
thing else. Why it has been decided again
and again that when q prescription leaves
the physician's hand and goes into that of
the patient 1t Is no longer the doctors prop
More damage" interposed DR.. Ferguson,
"has been lone by reflling prescriptions
without order of the physician than by the
sale of ~poisons. The habitual use of mol
phine and choral has been brought about
by refilling prescriptions containing those
drugs"
lit is we'll to remember" remarked DR..
E. X. Lewis, that it has been decided by
the courts ia several of the States that the
prescription, after Il has gone into the pa
TENTS hand, belongs to him."
The only thing for a physician to do"
said DR.. Biitz, lis not to send prescriptions
to druggists who will refill them without
orders"
1.-The ownership of the prescription has
been %variously decided in the courts re-
marked DE-. L. S. Elder. 1T has been de-
cided by a New York court to belong to
the druggist. II our Supreme Court should
to him alone for his own protection, not to
refill, we would have accomplished all we
intended. 1t is q wrong to the physician
to nave his prescription filled over and
over again. and peddled all around q neigh
borhood.o
Il think if the law was made to apply to
stances" said DR.. w. H. Wishard, that
would cover the ground"
."Yes." said another doctor. for most OF
them contain poison"
"a druggist told me.n said DIR. Cline.
that he was filling q certain prescription
for q hundred families at least."
II think If the ply stefan would write on
his prescription. Not to be re6lled.' that
the druggist would obey his request" re-
"We shouldn't go into this thing too
hastily" said DIR. j. L. Thompson. Don't
let US make ourselves ridiculous. Druggists
will refrain from r~efilling if you show them
a reason" The committees recommends
tion, however. was adopted.
b. The next clause was concerning IAN act
to give the State Board of Health power to
determine the fitness or unfitness of col
leges and with power to anDul diplomas Is
ued to unworthy practitioners" which was
adopted. This was followed by other recon-
mendations, one of which was to allow no
physician to practice in Indiana who has
not pursued his studies four years and at:
tended three full courses OF lectures, and
an act to refuse to recognize medical dipl0.
mas of foreign countries. except the conn
tries of those presenting them recognize In.
diana diplomas, both of which were adopt
ed. Following this came the recommends
tion for IAN act making the county license
800 n mouth" cit would be we'll" sug.
gested DIR. G.. w. Cook, "for the Board OF
s~ician!"
1--WE had better leave that OUT exclaimed
DR.. j. l.. Thompson. People will think we
want an exclusive privilege
IF you put that H." said Dr.: 9. N. Met
calf, you will bring q force OF those fel.
lows around this Legislature thicker than
bees around a mOlasa6B-D arrel In summer"
The recommendation was adopted, never.
theless. The last recommendation, which
was also adopted. was for IAN act to pre-
vent county commissioners and town trust
ees from employing physicians or county OF
town health officers to render professional
services to the poor on the basis of the low
est bidder" DR.. Metcalf muttered that he
did not believe that brains ought TO be put
on the auction block, but q majority evi.
IDENTIFY thought differently.
The following committee was appointed
to present the resolutions and recommends.
tions TO the General Assembly: Drs. Guido
Bell, StilIson. Stone. Cook. Metcalf. Eden
harter. w. c. Thompson, w. N. Wishard
benson, ID. A. Thompson, Morgan, Fergu'
son, Cline. Moffett and Elder.
The secretary then read tho following
letter:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1S91.}
Mr.. A. L. Wilson. Indianapolis, Ind:
My Dear sir-The President directs me tC
acknowledge the receipt of Your letter of thu
2lst instant, conveying resolutions passed o.
the meeting OF the Marion County Medical SO
ciety, held on the evening OF the Goth instant
Very truly yours. i. w. HALFoRD,
Private Secretary.
DIR. Z. S. Elder moved that the letter b,
placed in the archives of the society" ant
the motion prevailed. A ape on Early
Recognition of Eye Strain was then read
by DIR. BlitZ, which concluded the trans
e 4.-.-