Evening star., 1898-03-19
PROTEST OF PHARMACISTS
All the Retail Draggists Oppose the Pending
Poison Bill.
Provisions Of the Measure and Arxu-
nents Against Tf-Commissioners
Asked To Adversely Report.

Asked To Adversely Report.
The PharmaceuticaE Society Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia Is taking vigorous action
to prevent the passage Of House bill $3.50,
introduced by Representative Curtis Of
Iowa February 10 last. to regulate the
sale OF poisons in the District Of Columbia.
The bill provides that it shall be unlawful
1or any person except a registered phar-
niacist, or under the personal supervision
OF such to retail any Of the poiscns enum-
Grated In schedules A and B Of the bill,
which read as follows:
Sche6ule A-Arsenic and its preparations,
corrosive sublimate, white precipitate, red
precipitate, biniodide of mercury, cyanide
OF potassium, hydrocyanic acid. strychnine
and all other poisonous vegetable alkaloids
ronds. opium and its preparations, except
paregor1c, when sold in quantities of not
more than one ounce
Schedule B-Aconite, belladonna, colchi-
ergot, cotton root, cantharides, creosote.
oig1tai1s and their pharmaceutical prepara-
uens; croton oil, chloroform, chloral hy-
orate sulphate of zinc, mineral acids, car
oollc acid and oxalic acid.
Other Provisions.
The bill further provides that the recep-
tacle containing the poison must bear a
label containing the word poison" the
name Of the owner of the pharmacy and
the address Of the place where sold, and
continues as follows:
Nor Shall 1t be lawful for any registered
pharmacist, or his assistants, to sell or de-
HVer any poison enumerated in schedules
a and unless, upon due inquiry, it be
round tnat the purchaser is aware of its
poisonous character, and represents that
It Is to be used for a legitimate purpose
NOR Snail 1t be lawful for any registered
pharmacist, or his assistants, to sell any
poison included in schedule A without first
placing said poison In three-cornered con-
tanner, and before delivering the same to
the purchaser causing an entry to be made
in a book kept for that purpose stating
the date of the sale, the name and address
OF the purchaser, the name and quantity of
the poison sold, the purpose for which 1t is
represented by the purchaser to be re-
quired. and the name of the dispenser;
such book to be always open for inspection
by the proper authorities, and to be pre-
served for reference for at least five years.
The provision of this section shall not ap-
ply to the dispensing of pcisons upon the
prescriptions of physicians and surgeons
licensed under the act of June 3, 1896, en-
titled An act to regulate the practice of
medicine and surgery, to license physicians
and surgeons. and to punish persons vto-
lating the provisions thereof in the District
OF Columbia except as provided for in
the following clause: That it shall not be
lawful for registered pharmacist, or his
assistants. to compound or dispense more
than once prescription containing opium,
morphine, cocaine or chloral, when such
prescription has written or printed upon
its face the words not to be repeated"
1t provides, in conclusion, that any per-
son violating any of the provisions shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall,
upon conviction thereof, be fined not less
than IS nor more than 800, In the discretion
CT the court, for each and every offense.
In opposition to this bill the Pharma-
ceutical Society, composed of the retail
druggists of the District has presented to
the District Commissioners an earnest pro-
test against the bill, with the request that
the Commissioners, who now have the bill
before them, report adversely upon 1t.
Rensons Recated.
The petitioners giveJtamong their reasons
for protest, the following:
"In the first place there does not seem
to be any reason or necessity for changing
the poison law now in ,ope1 alton In the Dis
trict, which has proved most acceptable;
and no case, Of suicide or accident can be
recalled where. the proposed law would
have proved more protective measure
than the present Ole. No good and valid
reason exists why it becomes necessary to
have the poison law separated from the
law to regulate the practice of pharmacy.
Not for the City's Best Interests.
1--WE are also Of the opinion continues
the protest, "that the pharmacists of the
city, and particularly the commissioners Of
pharmacy, who are to live under and carry
out the provisions of the pharmacy law,
should be consulted in the preparation of
such bill, but in the preparation Of this
poison bill we consider that our rights
have been ignored.
After careful consideration and consul
tation, we are of the opinion that this pro-
posed law is not for the best interest of
the community. It is an infringement up
on their rights, is confusing and compli-
Gated, without Offering any Improvement"
Class Legislation Charged.
After reciting at length many points in
support Of the protest, the petition con-
cludes as follows:
Parties may have had prescriptions, con-
tanning poisons named in schedule A, filled
and refilled in all parts Of the world, but
when they reach Washington and have
son. put in a three-corned bottle, and the
which he wishes the medicine placed in a
poison register and kept for at least five
years.
1--WE further oppose the bill as being
class legislation, in favor of the physician
and against the people. In opposing it we
voice the sentiment of all the pharmacists
in the city and uphold the interests of the
community at large"