The Portland daily press., 1897-04-10
sALEoF DRUGS.
How 1t VIII Be Affected BY the New fhar-
macy Law


The pharmacy law amended and re-
vlsed by the Legislature of 1897, neeas
more than passing notice, as 1t is LAT
reaching IN some of its provisions, ana
restricts the sale of drugs, medicines ana
poisons to greater extent than any law
heretofore on the statute book.
kThey State Of Maineshas had pharmacy
law for 40 years and during that time
but very few changes have been made in
it. Although Maine was early in the
field, with the law, other states have
since enacted similar laws and have i'm
proved upon them from time to time.
The improvement of our law has received
little or no attention. The commission
ers, for the past four years. have made
the law stand for all it was worth and
done as good work as possible under its
provisions. Seeing the necessity Of
radical change in some Of it's parts. they
asked the Legislature of 1897 to revise
and amend the law. that it might be
made more effective, without.th detail,
trouble and expense. whioh.the commits
sioners were obliged to sustain in order
| to procure prosecution under it. The
request was referred to the judiciary
committee, who saw the force of the
reasons for a change and unanimously
reported fought to pass and SO 1t did.
| Today we have law which, it Is urged,
| ELECTROMAGNETIC respect of all apothe-
carries and storekespers interested in its
provisions. Those who have been doing
business contrary to the old law, will do
well to carefully read the new law and
promptly comply with its require
ments. The attention of storekeepers. in
small towns and villages is particularly
called to the latter part of section 9, as
| their interests are involved.
| The sale of Paris green, hellebore and
other poisonous in o ticides are now
| limited to registered apothecaries in the
cities and larger towns, while country
storekeepers in the smaller towns and
villages, where there are no drug stores,
are granted permit after showing
fitness, to sell the usual medicines and
poisons used as home remedies, and for
the necessary agricultural purposes.
There are dealers, having heretofore sold
these articles. who may feel their rights
have been abridged, but little consider
alton of the facts in the case will con-
vince them to the contrary. The COM
missioners believe, and as the law is now
| In force, a compliance with the REQUIRE
nents of the same is a matter oonc8rni J 6
which the commission thinks there
need be no hesitation.
| All certificates and permits are to be
"displayed in conspicuous place in the
store or shop of the persons to whom the
same were issued.' This is feature of
nearly every pharmacy law in the United
| States but has not heretofore been re-
quired in this state, but as now 1t Is a
part of the law the authorities expect a
strict compliance with the provision.
| The old law allowed physicians who
graduated from a regular medical school
| to do the business of an apQthecary with
out examination or registration by the
commission of pharmacy. Now, all
physicians who graduated after March 81,
| 1897, If they desire to open and condu ct
an apothecary store, will be required to
pass satisfactory examination before
the commission. The law, before the
an injustice not only to the practical and
hard working apothecary, but to the
pharmacy graduate as we'll. The apothe-
cary gives years of his life to study and
close application in perfecting his knowl-
eddge of practical pharmacy, while the
pharmacy graudate spends four years.tn a
course of study especially per tanning to
pharmacy, interspersed with practical
laboratory and pharmaceutical work, and
is required to pass crucial and salts
| factory examination before the college
boards. N Notwithstanding this the law re-
quires him to pass satisfactorily, an ex.
amin alton before the commission of
pharmacy, before he can legally en- gage
in the business of an apothecary.
Previous to the passage of this new law q
physician Just graduated from medical
school, without training or study which
should fit him for dispensing, preparing
or even identifying drugs, was allowed to
open an apothecary store and practice
pharmacy as well as medicine. The new
law requires alike from the young
physician, the pharmacy graduate and
the young man who has given three years
in study and practice, under the direction
of skilled apothecary, an examination,
which shall prove to the pharmacy COM
missioners his ability as an apothecary.
There are other additional provisions to