The evening times., 1899-11-15

Since the recent announcement of the
intention of Secretary Harper. of the Dis
| trict Commissioners Of Pharmacy, to pros
ecute all violators OF the pharmacy law,
and particularly to begin a crusade against
all druggists and Others who were appar-
emily taking advantage Of certain techni-
calities in the law, interest generally in the
matter has been on the increase. The re-
suit is now that all those who comply with
the law are anxious that the prosecutions
begin at once against the violators.
Several prominent druggists have called
| on Secretary Harper and guaranteed him
] their support in his undertaking. and have
cided action is taken there will be no end
to the violations and the consequent dan
gers to the public, which they claim will
| be a result.
Secretary Harper has expressed himself
as being thoroughly alive to the necessity
| for immediate and rigid enforcement Of the
| law. and he stated positively today that he
| would use every effort to prosecute fully
those who persist in violating it. He states
that all persons have now had sufficient
warning Of his intention, and have no valid
excuse for further violation.
Though Secretary Harper will appear as
the complaining witness against all viola
tors OF the pharmacy law, the prosecution
will be conducted by the District govern
ment. OF which he is simply an agent. He
has acting under his instruction former De-
tective Charles Proctor. who. as has been
previously stated. is engaged now in Sc
surfing evidence. Proctor Is an employe OF
the District government. detailed for this
al In VII Nf the hat
the District government. or the District
Commissioners. more properly speaking. are
enforcing the law, an interesting question
presents itself. The question is simply
this: Can the District prosecute itself?
According to Information in the posses
sion Of Secretary Harper, the District gov
ernment Is itself yiolator of the pharma-
cy law. In that ii maintains and supports an
institution at which no registered pharma-
cist is employed. The institution referred
to Is the Washington Asylum Hospital En-
quiry there revealed that no registered
pharmacist was employed. but that a grad
uate physician compounded the prescrip-
tions used. The pharmacy law states that
no one not a registered pharmacist shall
conduct any pharmacy or store for the pur-
pose OF retailing, compounding or dispens-
ing medicine or poisons for medical use.
In view OF the fact that other hospitals
are said to be operating pharmacies without
the aid OF a registered pharmacist and are
liable to prosecution for it, the question
has arisen among those interested. Why
prosecute one and not another How can
the District enforce law which il violates
openly itself?"
Secretary Harper in speaking OF the
matter said:
Il have made enquiries into the meth
tai ha
ing of prescriptions, and have learned of
several violations. l have also declared
my intention of bringing about the prose-
cution OF all violators, but l do not see
how / can conscienciously bring charges
against one hospital and not another.
Then. again. I do not see how I can get
the District Commissioners to prosecute
themselves. l am told that there is no
registered pharmacist employed at the
Washington Asylum Hospital and that. of
course. is in direct violation of the law
But even so. l think II will be a rather
delicate mater to handle
DR.. D. Percy Hickling. of the staff OF
the Washington Asylum Hospital. in
speaking Of the matter of registered
pharmacist at the hospital, stated that
the situation had been fully treated upon
and explained in his report. now in the
hands Of the Commissioners Dr. Hick-
ling admitted that there was no registered
pharmacist at the hospital but he said he
hoped provision for one would be soon
made. In his report to the Commissioners
he asked that such a position be created
at the hospital, with proper compensation
attached. The matter. he said, would be
decided by Congress when the report of
the Commissioners went before that body
Several well-known pharmacists and
physicians have suggested a means Of pro-
viding registered pharmacists for the char
ity hospitals who cannot afford to secure
the services OF such a person One of the
physicians, in speaking of the matter,
said:
THE matter could be adjusted II Con-
gress would appropriate sufficient money
to pay registered pharmacists. After the
appropriation had been secured the COM
missioners OF pharmacy could recommend
the registered pharmacists for the posi-
tious vacant, and the District Commission
ers should have the power of appointing
them.
The chief reason which prevents GER
tain charitable hospitals from employing
registered pharmacists at present is the
lack of funds. At those hospitals pre-
scriptions are now compounded by nurses |
students, and others simply as a matter Of
economy. II there was an appropriation |
for a pharmacist or pharmacists, there |
would be an end to the trouble.
1T is to be hoped that the Commission |
ers will recommend to Congress that such |
an appropriation be made. Then not only |
the Washington Asylum Hospital. but all |
charitable institutions would avoid prose- |
cution for a violation Of the pharmacy law,
and also avoid all unpleasant situations. |
The other hospitals could then be compell- |
ed to fulfill the requirements of the law or |
take the consequences"