The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-07
ADULTERATED MEDIC'S.
VIII T THE BOARD OF PHARMACY
rs DOING.
President L. A. Miller Tells Of the Work of
His Observation-Disclosures Report OF
Captain A. b. Guigon,

Captain A. b. Guigop,
Mr.. II. A. Miller, president of the
Board Of Pharmacy OF Virginia. when
asked what action, If any. the Board of
Pharmacy had taken at its meeting in
Richmond in reference 10 the question OF
adulteration, replied:
This matter has given the Board
great deal Of concern. Since the pas
sage at the last session of the Legisla-
ture Of the new pharmacy law, which
regulates the matter of adulteration, the
board has been in receipt Of a number
OF complaints of adulteration. many OF
which, however. were found upon investi-
cation 10 be without foundation. AT
our meeting in October Iast we received
written complaint from certain whole
sale druggists I'm the State OF adultera-
ton of various drugs. and particularly
laudanum, which had been put upon the
| market I'm considerable quantities, and we
were asked TO give the matter our at
| tention. Acting under the instructions
OF the Board. and under the advice OF
Mr.. Guigon, our counsel, we procured
| number Of samples OF laudanum from
merchants and druggists of this city,
with the result OF finding that ten out
of thirteen failed to comply with the
| law. This matter is fully set out I'm
the report of our counsel to the Board.
10 which l refer YOU"
"Why were not the parties prosecuted.
Mr.. Miller?'
Because the Board was confident that
the adulteratiOn had occurred without an
intention or even knowledge Of these
druggists and merchants. In the case
Of the wholesale merchants, 1t was ig
nOrance, and the fact that their goods
had been purchased under guarantee and
without any knowledge OF the require
ments Of the law. In the case Of the
druggists. they were fortunately able TO
show us that every case Of their failure
10 come up TO the standard was acct
| dental, and owing to some circumstance
beyond their control.
NEw LAW.
"The chief reason, however why the
Board declined to prosecute was because
this is a new law, and 1t was the FIRST
time it had ever been sought to be en-
forced The penalties for adulteration
are very severe, and we felt that its
rigid enforcement would be unjust as
wen as impoliuc. What we wanted is
The moral effect. which we hope will
be as well secured by our investigation
Of the matter and its results as would
have been by prosecution and severe
punishment. our druggists and mer-
chants are honest people. who will not
consciously violate the law, and as every
one of them Will be notified OF the
purpose of the Board 10 enforce the law
hereafter we believe that in future the
standard Of drugs sold in Virginia viii
be as high as anywhere in the United
States"
How does the new law work. on the
whole?"
1--WE consider IL decidedly success. and
we hope and believe that after seeing
its workings and realizing the conserVa-
tive spirit In which the Board ondeavors
to enforce the law. the profession and
merchants generally throughout the
state will realize its advantages, and will
give the Board their earnest co-opera-
ton. At least. our experience so far
justifies this hope"
CAPTAIN GUIGON TALKS.
Captain Guigon, IN talking on the sub
ject said he heartily confirmed what
the president had said, and added that
nothing in his experience had so con-
WINGED him Of the law-abding disposition
OF the average Nirginian as the attitude
of the various parties Of whom COM
plant had been made. and who. almost
without exception. had met the Board
and its counsel in a spirit OF earnest
and friendly cooperation.
DO you apprehend any effort TO re-
E.egislature?"
ION the contrary" replied Mr. Guigon,
II believe that the opposition which
manifested itself in some directions at
the last session. when the extended
amendments 10 the old law were intro
duced. has almost entirely vanished, and
though. of course. this statute is not
perfect, yet its benehcent effects have
become so manifest that instead of meet
.ng with opposition In the next Legisla-
ture, ] believe there will be no difficulty
whatever in securing some few amend
ments which the practical workings OF
tie law and the experience oc the Board
have shown Mould be desirable"
THE REPORT.
The following is the fun text Of Captain
Guigon's report
10 the Honorable Board of Pharmacy
OF Virginia.;
GCntlemen.-I have the honor 70 re-
port that since my employment as gem
eral counsel for the Board. on the first
day of July, 1894, l have received eighty
three letters. OF which the greater num-
Der were in reference to alleged viola
tons or the pharmacy law. and which in
cluded also some Inquiries as to construc-
ton OF its sections. / have written since
that date one hundred and two letters,
and the entire correspondence has in
yolyed investigation OF complaints In
thirty-nine different cases. In great
many instances investigation has shown
that the alleged violations had not &C.
CURED. In other cases IL was manifest
that the violations had been uninten-
-ional. and proceedings were dropped, on
emphatic and earnest assurances OF the
ns<tis@ lzAk tbsx would not be allowed to