Evening star., 1900-12-08
DRUGGISTS AND DENTISTS.
Report of Inspector Having Super
vision of Violations of Law.

Policeman Charles w. Proctor who is de-
tailed as inspector of the drug business,
has submitted his first annual report to
Major Sylvester of the work done since he
was assigned to the duty, November l of
last year. The operations under the law, as
shown by the report, cover the period from
the time Of his assignment to duty to the
close of the fiscal year, June 80 last. The
report says that from statistics obtained in
the health office the secretaries of the
boards of pharmacy and dental commits
stoners, and by a methodical visitation in
person of all the drug stores and dental
offices the inspector secured the names and
addresses Of all licensed physicians and
midwives, together with the proprietors
and employees in pharmacies and dental
offices, and arranged them in order in an
office register provided for that purpose
AS near can be approximated there are
now In the District 500 licensed practicing
physicians, As of whom became licensed
during the time covered by this report: also
100 licensed midwives, of whom were Ii
censed during the same period.
The inspector investigated some 80 cases
where it was alleged that unlicensed per-
sons were practic.ng medicine, s of whom
were taken into court. Three were con-
victed and fined, one was acquitted, three
are awaiting trial by jury and one sud-
denly left the city before the warrant could
be served. Evidence could not be secured
on which to base a prosecution in six cases,
but all were required to take in their M
D." signs. while still others warned
against violating the law. Two licensed
specialists were required to change the
wording of misleading advertisements.
The names and addresses Of II persons
were obtained. Of whom the inspector had
no record, who were classed as physl-
clans" Upon investigation he learned that
five of them We're licensed and that the
others were army and navy surgeons. pen
sion office examiners, veterinary surgeons.
doctors of manicure. osteopathy, massa 8e
and Swedish movement. dentists, etc.
Scores of firms and individuals were Wis
isited who engaged in the manufacture,
sale and shipment of patent, proprietary
medicines. some Of whom have a regularly
licensed physician in attendance to prescribe
for their local patrons. In this way many
persons are employed, one firm having
about forty.
There are in the District 195 drug stores
II of which are in the county. OF the 300
propretors 81 are not registered pharma-
cists They have employed 100 regular
clerks 20 of whom are not registered.
They have also employed at times ~ re-
lief clerks, and permanently employed 1n7
apprentices, who are learning the business.
Fifteen of the stores have unregistered
proprietors. but have registered clerks en-
piOyed to compound and dispense physi-
clans pres. riptions and to sell posons.
leaving three stores without any register
ed person in charge. One of the latter is
before the court charged with violating the
drug law. The other two are homeopathic
stores. Owing to a defective law, the in
spector states, the proprietors could not be
examined for registration, but certain
amendments have been made and steps
will be taken to have them qualify.
1T was ascertained that 1S5 druggists
kept the required register of the sale of
poisons, while ten did not, eight of the lat
ter claiming they did not sell poisons, while
the other two stated that a proper record
would be kept in future. About one-third
kept the transactions in detail, the others
emitting in one or two particulars to make
the proper entries, though all promised to
do in future
The inspector investigated the sale by
druggists Of pOisonS with which six per-
sons committed suicide, and with which
twelve others attempted suicide: also two
cases where pOisons were taken by mis-
take 1t was found that IL twelve in
stances the law had been complied with,
that three times it could not be learned
from whom it was bought while the
manning three failed to obey the law. Two
were taken to court. where they were
found guilty and fined; the other case is
still pending.
Complaint having been made that larre
department and grocery stores We're ell
ing medicines, the inspector investigated
thirteen of the former and eighteen of the
latter, and aside from seven patented medi-
cines nothing in the form of drugs could
be found in any of them, excepting one
grocery store. The proprietor notified
that he must cease its sale.
Section II of act Of Congress entitled
An act to regulate the practice of phar-
macy in the District Of Columbia ap-
proved June 10. 1878, Is defective, and
hence imperative. inasmuch 1t does not
provide for any fine or Imprisonment in
default of the payment Of the license fee,
$500. The inspector says it should be so
amended as to make it effective.
During his Investigations, he states, he
found that the practice of medicine by un-
scrupulous and unlicensed persons is often
engaged in under the guise of practicing
phrenology, psychology and ralmistry, and
it is to be hoped that the bill prohibiting
such practices in this District now before
Congress, may become a law
There are In this District 226 registered
practicing dentists, twenty of whom are
in government employ, five are practicing
who are not registered, one of whom was
prosecuted in court. He was fined S75
which was paid. The other four are bona
fide pupils in college. working with a reg