The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-20
GET WHAT YOU ASK.
Certain Druggists Who Bring Reproach
Upon their Business by the Practice OF
Palming Off "substitutes'' on the Public.

When person goes to a drug store for
a standard remedy and the druggist tries
to palm off some other preparation of a
pretended similar nature, urging the
customer to buy the latter concoction on
the plea that sit is just as good" OF
Greatly BETTER than the standard remedy
called for, it is proper to avoid that drug
store ever afterwards.
The profit to the druggist on the stand
ard preparations is not large. The few
remediee that the whole world recognizes
as meritious, are prepared by able physi-
clans and chemists, with every facility
of modern science at their command,
from the formulas of the most learned
physicians. that this generation has pro-
duced. A tremendous amount of capital
is invested in the laboratorieswhere these
remedies are made. They have gained
til cir regulations by the great good they
have done in curing. disease and relieving
pain. 1t costs a great deal to keep up
their necessary excellence.
The unscrupulous9and generally igno-
rant druggist referred to sees chance to
make big profit by mixing together a
nun Der of cheap Ingredients, giving the
mixture a name, and taking advantage
of the guillibilitY of some people, who
seem to like to experiment with their
health There is in fact a concern that
supplies to druggists this kind of stuff
always the same-and gives a druggist
his.choice of labels to suit the druggists
idea of whatS label will most easily
"catch'' the customer. These prepara-
tions are frauds, and are never adver-
tised, because they will not bear the
light of any public Investigation.
The Pharmaceutical Era of December
81, says; 49, =, 4,o.-
have brought upon themselves and the
evil to their profession by the practice of
substitution? There is no use mincing
matters and carefully choosing words.
There are druggists, and not few, who
are guilty of substitution, Fand 1t is time
for an outspoken. denun citation of this dis
honorable practice. If there is any bust
ness or profession which more than an
other should be characterized by absolute
honesty and integrity it is pharmacy
The issue of life and death frequently
rests with the druggist. and anv tamper-
In Q with the physicians prescription be-
comes crime.
"Ths druggist frequently argues that
his substitute is the same as or letter
than the article prescribed; but Eeven
though this were tlue the article is not
what was ordered or expected. The reas-
on for substitution by the druggist is
either for. his own convenience or his
financial bensfit-both unworthy mo,
tives. sThere has been great deal said
upon the subject, but the real issue has
bsensdisguised by lot of words and
speSious and fallacious arguments. until
the question of RICH t.and wrong seems to
have been lost sight of. Druggists owe
IL to themselves to frown upoI this prac-
tice, to djscounteDance 1t in every way
possible, and TO defend their profession,
by proof of their falsity, against the
charges of dishonesty. whic b. we regret
to say, are brought against it and found
ed upon far too much evidence.
"Would we could make every druggist
in the land see this matter plainly, for
we are sure that every rlght-minded
and wsll-m Gaming man would at once
discover why it 10 that substitution is
both dishonorable and dishonest. -
Boston, glass; Globe. sY