The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-12-13
B,nttLebOrO Local
ATTLEBoRo LIQUOR SALES.
.s Attorney Bacon Investigating
PHYSICIANS Prescriptions.

4, examination of the records OF
..ias Of intoxicating liquor in Brat
,ief.-, for several months past upon
,,o..r.ptions of physicians has been
rog this week by States Attorney
p| n C. Bacon of Brattleboro, and
~ Bacon has come to the conclusion
. . many Of the prescriptions are I'M
,.ror,,pted, says the local correspond.
ont # the Springfield Republican. He
will make some effort to minimize the
obr. of the privilege which physi'
oion. have of issuing prescriptions for
Tonor. but he hopes to be able to ac'
,osoIish that end without recourse to
Iepal process. The prescriptions are
ALL nj the drug stores, but the drug
.ist. do not feel that it is within their
ssroy;nce to question a person s need
If 'ntoxicating liquor when he pre-
.rn.s prescription stating, ms the
nrrs.riptions do, that it is necessary
s,r medical use,n or is "for medical
~. only." Mr.. Bacon feels that the
novcr of preventing the abuse lies
With the physicians rather than with
,be druggists. He has asked the PRIV
Iege of attending meeting of the
Rrgttlcboro medical club for the pur'
mise of expressing his views upon the
fsnbicet and of urging the physicians
"a agree upon some course OF acton
which shall tend to obviate the exist
;r, owl and he has been assured that
meh an opportunity will be accorded
him, o.o,
abIc in the exercise of their privilege
I"t the record of one physician IS pre-
srriptions. as shown by the returns IN
Tho comfy clerk IS office, has attracted
Mr. Bacon attention in particular
Each druggist is required by law TO
boon a record of the prescriptions
fnrd. showing the amount and KIND OF
liquor called for, the names Oh tne
musicians issuing them, and TO return
The records to the county clerk once
ayerv month. Three of the four Brat
tleboro druggists have returned theil
cords for November. These show
fatal of 92S sales, and if the records
of the fourth drug store MAINTAIN .n,
o,,erage the total will exceed lzo'
solos OF the 92S sales 277 were maze
upon the prescriptions of one phys,
cian. an average of about III Tor eaci
working day. The prescriptions upoi
which the remaining 651 sales wer'
made were issued principally by, ~
other physicians, but three or lou
more issued from one to half a doZei
nrescrintions each. 1t is Mr.. Bacon Z
Intention that if a person is actuan.
in need of liquor for medicinal pui
noses an examination will reveai en
fact and he believes that such exam
rotion should be made and the appi'
can't he charged for an office cal.
He believes that instead of takin
the applicant IS word as to the neee o o
tbe liduor and making a charge oi
~ 20 cents. as is now done I'll
musician should determine the nee
himself and charge ST., the same 40 =
would for writing any other prese,il
tion. The physicians are not sure Una
mic nlan would work out TO goou d,
vantage. In many instances the app
oon+s have no immediate need Oh III
Tonor Int they wish to have a supp
an hand for use in case OF emergehc.
IN cases of that kind an examinatio
would W. be necessary, and in some :
them, at least, charge OF 81 woui
ba an unnecessary hardship. otn'
instances might be mentioned IN wnic
~ norticular skill is needed 10 ue'e
mine the need of stimulant ana a,
which the usual charge for an OILY ~
visit would be unwarrantea, Ill u
Union of some of the physicians