New-York tribune., 1906-12-07
HITS PHARMACY BOARD.
Eduard Thimme Makes Charges
BigeIou's Denial.

In letter headed Graft In Pharmacy" ad-
dressed 70 the Editor Of The Tribune. Edward
Thimme. Of No. S93 Atlantic avenue. Brooklyn.
! who says he was formerly secretary of the
Druggists League. makes serious charges
against the Board OF Pharmacy. for which. ac-
cording to C. o. Bigelow. president of the State
{ Board OF Pharmacy, there is no foundation IN
fact
In his letter Mr. Thimme blames the Legis-
iature for passing law five years ago which.
he says. gave the Board Of Pharmacy powers
TO control the drug trade IN excess of those of
the Police and Health departments The let
ter says that the first abuse which at
tackled with much financial profit by the board
was the use Of purified wood alcohol by drug
gists in preparations The board acted without
warning.
Another raid on druggists by the board was,
he says, its endeavor stop the sale of cocaine.
Druggists he says. permitted to sell CO.
caine in any quantity. provided that it is Ia
belled Poison" and the name and address OF
the purchaser is entered in the poison book.
The Board of Pharmacy Mr.. Thimme says.
gets evidence TO bring suit for two. three five
violations, each one OF which means S25 to the
board which he declares. usually compromises,
II the number of violations is five, by a settle
ment for three. He concludes by saying that
the aggregate Of fines levied against the drug
gists OF New York is greater than the entire
amount of fines paid by the druggists Of the
United States in twenty years Practically all
the money goes. he asserts, to the members Of
thes board and their friends for salaries. travel
ling expenses. counsel and chemists fees. Mr..
Thimme suggests that Governor-ele Hughes
should cause an investigation of the board to
ascertain whether there is any real need for such
a body
After reading Mr. Thimme's letter Mr.. Bigeow
said:
There are always two sides to a question OF
this sort. There are fifteen members Of the
Board Of Pharmacy and there are three
Each member is allowed So a day for thirty
days OF the year Most of the members work
more than thirty days for the board during the
year. getting nothing for their extra time. so
there is no graft there. Our receipts are prin-
cipally for druggists registration fees. permits
1t costs us about $4,000 year for the samples
OF drugs that our inspectors, travelling all over
the state. have TO buy. TO obtain evidence For
instance. an inspector buys cocaine in drug
store. It is often put up as a powder without
any label. OF course, a reputable druggist Will
scian. and he will always label IL Poison"
But IL is a startling fact that cocaine is sold
on the street in the Tenderloin and other parts
Of the city by Negroes who carry powders In
their pockets
All the samples we buy analyzed, includ-
ing of course wood alcohol The offender is
brought to the district court where fine of S25
is imposed The druggist may have the old ex
Cuse that his clerk made a mistake, and he
may be let off. but he Is watched. He is caught
second and a third time. Then we show the
court that the druggist had no idea Of reform
ing He is then fined for all three offences. for
II is really q criminal case. One man told
lawyer that he did not care for the fines, as his
sales of this sort paid hts rent for the year.
This is the kind Of business We are trying TO
suppress. The so-caled raids referred TO by Mr..
Thimme regular inspections, and our
office and general expenses include the money
MT or ANALYSIS
There is absolutely graft in the dealings
Of the Board OF Pharmacy with the druggists.
From another source II was learned that one
Of the former officers OF the Druggists League.
who IS friend Of Mr Thimme. recently
prosecuted by the Board Of Pharmacy.