The Washington times., 1904-02-01
SOCIETY OPPOSES
SALE OF POISONS
Wants Cocaine and Carbolic
Acid Restricted.
BILL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS
Medico-Legal Society Thinks Bill Is
Being Held Up by Commissioners.
Coroner Talks.


The poison bill. drafted by the
Medico-Lcgal Society. now before the
commissioners and the District Commit
tees in Congress, meets with the I'M
Qualified approval OF the Coroner and
the Major and Superintendent OF Po-
Ice.
Tbe central feature OF this bill, the
fuh text OF which has been printed In
ylie Times, u that poisons such as CO
cskBe and carbolic acid, shall be pur-
chased only on the prescription Of
physician. and this prescription shall be
Incapable OF renewal.
Hitherto II has been possible for a
mar 70 take a prescription for deadly
drug. naturally. when his physical con-
diJpn required the remedy. Eater.
when his condition no longer required
the use of the drug. but whenever he
had an appetite for il. he was able 10
have the prescription renewed indefin-
iteIf. BY the terms of the new bin this
abuse of doctors orders will be i'm
possible. as renewal OF the prescrip-
ton in these cases is expressly for
bidden.
his bill stands for a slight contro-
vepsy between the local pharmaceutical
society and the medico-legal society.
ing of these two societies to consider a
Lii framed by the pharmacists. in which
restrictions were placed not only on the
sate OF poisons. but on the. practice OF
pharmacy in the District. Part OF the
5 provisions, in the opinion of the ply
sieians. limited the practice OF pharmacy
almost entirely to graduates from the
NAional College OF Pharmacy, and
they did not think this was fair, In
their opinion there was no practical de-
feel in the existing arrangement
Relations Strained.
When this opinion was expressed. a
slightly strained relation developed be-
tween the two bodies Thereupon the
Medico-Legal Society. of which Dr. Rob
erE Reyburn is president and DR..
Charles A. Emmons is secretary. Sc
leeted that portion of the pharmaceu-
teal bill relating to the sale OF poisons,
ara embodied IL in the form of a sep
arsate bill When they essayed TO pre-
sent the message for, consideration.
they were told that the pharmacists
bin had precedence over theirs. a point
Coz which they took exception. on
the score that it were as proper for
sa1oonkeepers TO dictate the formation
ofta bill regulating their traffic as for
pharmacists to dictate terms under
which they might sell poisons. ques-
ti9p which involves the welfare of the
crtire community. For this reason they
resent the sidetracking Of their pro-
posed measure.
Ehis bill meets with the entire APP
prevail of Major Sylvester and Coroner
NeFitt. In his annual report Major
Sylvester called attention to the grow
ms tendency in Washington TO indulge
in the pernicious cocaine habit. This
habit has come here from the South,
where the practice has obtained among
the negroes TO an extent unappreciateo
for lack OF knowledge. Major Sylvester
feels very keenly on this point. be-
cause the indulgence IN such drugs is
always. he says. a precursor of crime
He thoroughly approves of the bill. as
he welcomes any measure which tends
20 limit the injurious dispensation OF
the drug. In his opinion the proposed
biuscovers the ground completely.
Coroner Emphatic.
Coroner hewitt is equally emphatic ir
his approval The Coroner says thai
he has not had his attention called Il
the cocaine habit officially, as Their.
have been no suicides from this caus.
during his term Of office. On the Other
hand there have been so many cases OF
suicides from carbollc acid, which can
under the present law. he purchased al.
most as easily as quinine. that he feell
strongly on the subject His idea Is
thar the sale OF this drug should be az
closely regulated as that OF other pois.
ons. and he calls attention TO the fac
that. in the event Of a family being
too poor TO purchase prescription for
this disinfectant. there are always tbs
physicians to the poor. whose services
can be demanded by a call at police
station at any hour. so that no one need
suffer because OF his inability to pur-
chase a prescription.