The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-28
By Grafton G. Allen, Phi. G.
pharmacist U. S. Public Health and Ma
rine Hospital servlce.)

r.-~ SUPPOSE that 90 per cent. Of.
IAI the persons who make pur-
| IHl ~ chase In a drug store regard
| bSezssf the transaction as nothing
ASssssWsassJ more Or less than similar
purchase at the grocery or market place
| No doubt a. principal reason LOT tii !, y
| that many things purchased OF the drus-
gist are articles which should not Dc
sold in a strictly modern pharmacy, Tor
| the ideal pharmacy should be q place
where medicines are compounded ana
| sold, ana certain analytical processes
| carried on-the analysis Of waters, lest
ling OF drugs and chemicals as TO their
purity. and strength, and not an en-
| nor,lnl for the sale of soda water cigars,
| 5brus shes, stationery and what not.
But competition, the habit OF expect
ling certain articles to be found at the
drug store and the demand for articles
cut of the line of the legitimate nave
| pressed the druggist of to-day into the
lot Of the tradeslnan, and he Is so re-
| garded by the laity.
taking into consideration that the laws
| of every State Of the Union, with lew
| exceptions. require that the owner or
manager OF any pharmacy shall have
passed an examination by board ap-
pointed for the purpose to determine his
FITNESS to compound medicines, 1t is no
| ticeajbe that pharmacy is on the way to
a better status. The colleges Of pharm-
acy In the large cities are yearly turning
out hundreds of graduates in pharmacy
and chemistry. these institutions rnqplf-
ing a. far higher standard of pharlnac ecu
teal education than Is needed In the av-
erage drug store, though, Of course, no
knowledge can be regarded as superflu-
Gus. Compared with other technical
branches of medicine 1t may occasion
some surprise to know that the time re-
uuired to obtain the degree OF pharn1a-
ceutical graduate (Ph. CD from reputa-
bic school of pharmacy is four years and
in some instances six IL an advanced de-1
gree Ph, C0 is sought.
Every reputable college OF pharmacy,
requires that the candidate be over TWEEN
tY-one years Of age, and that he shall
have had four years practical experience
In drug stores where physicians prescrip-
lions are compounded.
" Now, compare this time requirement
with that for the professions of dentis-
try and medicine. A candidate can grad
medicine in four years.,yand 1t has not
been long since the course IN medicine
consisted OF three years. and yet people
almost universally speak of the pharnla-
cist as "mister'' and the dentist and
physician as "doctor"-a peculiar incon-
sistently. Is 1t not?
We hear much OF the PHYSICIANS re-
sponsibility to his patient, which Is all
we'll and good, but suppose the physician
writes a prescription for the patient like
the following and the pharmacist, to
whom 1t Is sent, to be compounded Is not
acquainted with the inconlpatlbillty of
the Ingredients:
r.
Tinct. Gentian.. .,..........,....,.....S0 c. c.
Tnct, Winch o....u...........,..y,.3O G. c.
Tinct. Ferri chlor... ...,.,.,.,.,l0 G. c.
Syr, Limonis, p. s,.,,,,,.,-......ad 100 G. q,
M. Sig. For Mrs Anaenia- Teaspoon
full t. l. d. before meals.
The result OF such combination as
written makes ink--tannate of IRON, The
skilled pharmacist would never send out
such mess as this, and have had Just
such a prescription handed me by the
trusting patient
Then again:
Re-
Hydrarg, bicl .,:,,,...r,,,,-"1
Potassa Iodlde. ...,..,.......,.
tSyr, sarsap, CO., q, s.,.,,.t-t,,ad W, G, 9,
{ NJ. 'Sg,-.For Mr.. NJ Teaspoonful AFT
ter meals. Aes t
The practical eye OF the pharmacist
will at once detect the error of a SIM
pie, period %. The dot Is on the wrong
sido Of the +; 1t was Intended by the
physician who wrote tito be l.. If ihe
error had not been detected tho patient
would have been visited the next time
by the undertaken These Illustrations