Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-14
DRUGGISTS AS DOCTORS
HOW THEY USED TO PRESCRIBE BE-
FORE THE WAR.
In the Ordinary Line of Duty They
Performed Minor Surgery, Leech-
ing and Cupping.
From the New York Times.


Before the war" began the druggist
whose memory and business date back TO
pre-civil war days, speaking of the drug
business as 1t was, compared to what II Is
at present, "a druggist always expected to
do a good deal in the way of prescribing.
In 1858 the College of Pharmacy graduated
some six men, where now hundreds are
graduated Very few druggists had any
thing but practical experience. 1t is prob
able that at that time the English were the
most scientifically educated in that line.
Here the druggist was expected to do prac-
teal work, to understand minor surgery,
leeching, blood letting and cupping. he
could take a quart or so of blood when a
patient came in and required 1t, and ne
could draw a tooth.
Sometimes he would go out ana make d
call and he was supposed to be thoroughly
posted as to what constituted dose OF
medicine, and to know the proper medicines
to be given in different diseases. Nowadays
thing about a dose; his business is to I'M
derstand the scientific preparation OF medl-
cines and he Is better quallned 1or ahaiy
sis than for practical work
"Chemistry enters more into the work OF
the druggist now than 1t did then. The
whole science of medicine has changed
and it is enough to make the hair OF an OLD.
time druggist stand on end to see the doses
are given. Forty years ago an ounce Of
strychnine would last druggist ten years
| and now he will use 1t in month. The
old-time druggist would not have put uI
such prescriptions as are sent to him now
| If the physician had stood over him and
fold him every ingredient. druggist Is
| not supposed now to know anything apoa'
| the prescription. If a prescription seems C
call for something that he does not thinF
| right II makes no difference; he must pu'
| II I'm or he is held responsible
Unusual Prescriptions.
There was an interesting case OF this KIND
| , nunober of yes.s ago in England. A ply
| sctan gave a prescription in which there
| was an extra amount OF dlgltahs, winch il
used TO stimulate the heart. the prescrlp-
tion was taken to seven druggists before II
| was filed. The first six refused to put w
tho drug. as the prescription called Tor It.
The seventh did, but the patient died. Ihe
case was taken to the court ana II was s, de;
| cided that if the prescription had been mice
| IN time the patient would have lived, anc
| the six druggists were fined Similar cases
| have been tried In the Supreme Court here
The physician Is protected oy aW ; nae II.
! cessive doses give the druggist. 1t Is al
| WAYS possible that mistake has beer
made. ..,
ephone to physician to verify the prescrip
/ ton. but before we would hunt all da!
sometimes to find man. They do not al
ways like it. and some think that the cues
tion reflects upon their judgment but man!
physicians are very thankful. remember
one case in 1890. We received a prescrip
ton for a child which called for wha
seemed an excessive dose. The prescriptio,
was brought to US in the morning, and al
that day we hunted the physician, ant
| finally found him at night in the Academ!
of Music He wanted to know IL we hat
Allied the prescription. and was very gla'
l Nc "a nj
the meantime that we did not have the In
gradients for filling. the prescription. AM
had sent out for them. So no harm wa
done in any way. In the old days drug