Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-07
THRILLING WITH LIVES.
AduIterntiOn of Drugs n Common
Practice in New York.

In the borough of Manhattan, reports the
Brooklyn Eagle, the health department is
making an investigation into the charge
that widespread adulteration of drugs has
assumed dangerous proportions. DR.. Ed
ward Martin chief chemist to the depart
ment has analyzed many samples of drugs
purchased at various drug stores and the
result of his labors would seem to call for
prompt and stern action. To illustrate:
Speaking of an examination into the char
acter of 200 samples of alleged phenacetine
purchased at as many different drug stores,
Dr. H. Schwetzer of 40 Stone street IS re-
ported as saying:
MY researches. so far, have shown 1874
phenacetine samples to be adulterated. They
proved to be simply admiXtures of acetan-
lid with flour, starch, sugar, bicarbonate OF
soda, chalk and citrc acid
None of these articles that have been
used in adulteration of phenacetine are dan
gerous to health, but the danger to one
whose recovery may be dependent upon
phenacetine prescribed in certain quantities
may lie in the failure Of druggist to sup
ply the potent quantity which patients
case demands. In discussing this matter
a Brooklyn physician os conceded ability and
standing in his protest. ion said to the writer
Of this column
Every household in this city has direct
interest in this question concerning the
aduIteration of drugs. ! am satisfied that
there is a great deal of adulteration to
which AN end should be put and do nol
know of any more effective way Of correct
ing this abuse than by the punishment OF
fragrant offenders. The adultera.ion OF Ger
tain drugs has become so common that
every physician who values good Teputa-
tian has to exercise great care in seeing
that his patients get just what he pre-
scribes for them. Take quinine 20 Illus
trate what I mean: When I prescribe quin-
inc in grave cases l invariably decline to
trust to pills which are ready for instant
delivery. There are quinine pills prepared
by responsible houses, yet they are not OBJ
tanable ait all drug stores and where. l
think these cannot be had / prescribe the
quantities in way which guard as far as
possible againt adulteration. I am free to
say that some members of the medical pro-
fession are partly responsible for the dis
inclination of some druggists to be honest.
These doctors purchase cases of prepared
tablets and dispense medicines instead OF
prescribing them. Druggists follow suit
and so you have preparations in tablet
| and liquid form, the quantities of which no
man knows. young doctor who has TO
| experience in compromising drugs buys a
big case of prepared prescriptions credited
| to this and that doctor of high standing.
| The young man has not been taught phar-
macy, because pharmacy Is not taught In our
| medical colleges. He does not even know
| how drugs look when combined in pre-
scription and so he welcomes the case OF
tablets that is offered to him by the agent
| of some cure-all house and he makes an
extra dollar by dispensing medicines In this
way. That is the doctor with whom GER
| tain druggists come in competition. In the
! use of uuinine phenacetine, antipyrne. ace
tanilid and many other drugs the utmost
care should be exercised. You prescribe.
for instance, a certain quantity of one of
these drugs; the patient does not responi
| to the medciue, because it is not of the
Dotency required, and then the doctor is
at sea- In some cases, where quick results
must be had the adulteration of drugs
may prove fatal. feel sure that every re-
| putable druggist will be delighted should the
| law place a heavy hand upon the men who
are in the habit of adulterating drugs year
| in and year out