The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-16


THE VIRGINIA MEDICAL MONTHLY.
December. Landon u. Edwards. NJ. ID,
editor and proprietor lV6 west trace
street. Richmond, Va, - per shluih.
In addition TO the usual departments OF
eve. ear, throat, and nose; genera sur
gerry and skin, venereal and genlto, u1-
nary diseases conducted by Drs. John
Dunn and stuart Mcclure, of TINS ci'y'
and DR. Bernard Wolfe, of Atlanta
The December issue contains nine able
original communications, two interesting
clinical reports, and other reading mat
ter OF value TO the practitioner.
However. in the editorial department,
under the head OF Doctors az Dispensers
ana Pharmacists as PrescriberJ," is dis
cussed by the able editor of the Virginia
Monthly, a subject which will interest
probably a greater number OF readers
than any other one contribution TO It's
contents. We have seen up TO this time
no fairer discussion OF question which
IL now being dealt with by medical jour
nails and papers IN all parts Of the coun-
try than this by Dr. Edwards.
lie introduces his editorial by quoting
our own popular pharmacist, Mr. Polk
Miller, as follows: with the present con-
dition Of business, II / had TO depend on
putting up prescriptions only, j had
rather drive dray FOR living
Pharmacists OF like popularity says
the doctor, "are constantly making IKE
remarks. Mr.. George J. Seabury, OF New
York, who travels all over the United
States, remarked during the same ses-
sion OF the Virginia Pharmaceutical Asso-
citation. with reference to the demoraliZd-
ton of the drug business in some PARIS
OF the country: with representatives Of
manufacturing houses going about giving
Instructions how to tre2 diseases our
business win be gone unless we stand to-
gether, and fix a line between medicine
and pharmacy
II Is needless TO discuss the rights or
the prophecies Of either profession in
cases OF emergency A man falling ON
the street in some urgent attack OF
angina pectOris Is lifted into the nearest
drugstore, and the pharmacist brushes q
pearl OF amyl nitric and administers II
10 save life or 10 relieve pain. Such
would be but an act of humanity. Mem
bers OF the patients family are told to
do the same thing. Ia like manner, the
doctor is expected TO be supplied with
his hyp0dermic syringe and tablets, and
with other articles TO meet emergency
cases. Such prescribing by the pharma-
cist. or such dispensing by the doctor,
should not Of course be listed as Illus
trations against either druggist or phy-
stefan.
Again, there can be no reasonable m
clusion Of the propriety Of the country
doctor who, by force Of circumstances,
has to carry his filed saddle-bags, from
which he has TO select and dispense mis-
medicines.
But in some cities where drugstores
are at almost every corner, the habit
Of dispensing practiced by certain phy-
siclans has done enormous mischief IN
reducing what should be a dignii1ed pro-
fession Of phaTmacsts-as il was only
a few years ago-to a level scarcely
higher than the pill-peddler. 1t is idle Tor
the doctor to undertake 10 defend his
course by asserting that it is a retalla-
ton upon the druggist for counter-pre-
scribing for substitution of other articles
than that he prescribes, etc. If the doc
tor will stop to think for himself one
minute. and not bend the ear TO the
periuries Of some Of the sly, low, cum
ming "drummers." who are anxious 10
stock the Doctors office with a line OF
their goods he will see how great an
injury he Is ultimately doing himself
and his future. A nan utterly unknown
to the doctor. selected by the manutac-
turer because of his glib tongue ana
plausible address, steps into the doctor
office. opens up his showcase, ana De
gins his speech. Doctor no druggist can
he relied on 10 fiji your prescriptions as
YOU want them filled. Every Druggist
substitutes Your patient VIII get an
inferior brand of medicine, or ne may
receive a totally different one. tuf'hef-
more. YOU share the risk of a blunder'
ser,ous or fatal. at the hands Of n cheap
drug clerk. Even if your prescriptions
are honestly filed, don't you know that
they will be repeated as often as the
uatiept demands? Doctor, you nave got
10 dispense if YOU want TO protect your
self against the druggist" And then
,roceeds to convince the doctor that the
most estimable men and druggists are
scoundrels: and then, 10 SHUT the trap
i'm which he has caught the DOCTOR, ne
offers him prices as low as those gwen
the trade. How is IL that doctors are
so gulHble? How is 1t that they so quick
" give themselves up TO believe man
emnloved because he Is plausible. thal
he never heard of before, and probably
win not see again for years ana yet
NOT believe the friend and intimate ac-
oliaintance of years against Whom, lfoln
no other source. has he ever heaid
breath Of suspicion?
INT in breaking up the dru6gist-lhe
home pharmacist-the doctors should re-
member that he Is doing himself and ms
patients an injury; for time and again
there win be occasion for the cOmpoGhd-
ing of prescriptions of some Of The rarer
drugs Had the druggist been allowed 10
make his profit ont of the commohef
goods which the doctor has been dlSpen-
sing, then the pharmacist would nave
been able to keep up supply equal 10
the demand But the city doctor, IN his
pf hIlVlnR from the
drummer" has taken from the local
pharmacists the profit of legitimate bust
nass-the capital in short-with which
he would have kept up his fun line OF
drugs, etc. TO quote further from the
bulletin Of pharmacy: "a few druggists
may substitute; a few may repeat pre-
scriptons without authority, but the
whole fraternity should not be black
guarded and made TO suffer for the sins
of the few" 1t IS not necessary 70 as
sert that while we Iegret any developing
tendency on the part of doctors TO be-
come dispensers of prescriptions that
legitlmately. and for the best interests OF
all concerned. belong TO the reputable
pharmacist. no countenance should be
given TO that druggist who undertakes to
prescribe over or behind the counter Or
course, if the patient comes in 10 buy a
bottle Of santal midi, or any other definite
medicine on his own responsibility, We
conccde to the pharmacist the merchants
right TO sell it; but that does not yield
10 him the right 20 prescribe it. Let US
deal fairly with each other.
We know of no way TO prevent the
injury done by doctors and druggists to
each other. unless plan Of agreement
between the two can be determined upon.
Hence It would seem well in certain com
munities 10 invite a conference Of both
the doctors and pharmacists Of the place
and let there be an earnest effort on