New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-15
DRUGGISTS FIGHT BILL.
Oppose McCarren's Measure Regu-
Iating Sale and ViOlatiOnS.

The New York state Board q Pharmacy, as well
as druggists in general. are opposed 70 the Nc
Carren bill amending and appealing certain sec
tons Of the public health law in relation to phar-
macy not only because OF a provision which
they say wiz undo all that has been done in the
last thirty years to make the sale OF drugs safe.
but also because of provision that all actions
violations OF the law shall be brought by the
Attorney General
This last provision had at first escaped the atten-
ton Of those who have been making fight against
the other provisions Of the law. AS the law
stands. the State Board OF Pharmacy. through
counsel selected by it. brings all actions against
violators OF the Law. In the proposed placing of
TINS power in the hands OF the Attorney General
they believe tie prosecution of yolators would be
made more difficult They also fear that il will
bring the complications Of political considerations
into the enforcement OF the Law. DR.. Clarence Q.
Bigelow. chairman OF the eastern branch OF the
State Board Of Pharmacy. said last night
Previous to the enactment OF the present General
Pharmacy act the district attorneys in the various
counties prosecuted the volators in their districts.
where we have our own counsel cases AGAINST yio-
lators prosecuted with the utmost impartIality
can see If This provision "A chance for political
patronage 1t would be a bad thing 10 have politics
en i INTO the work of the Board OF Pharmacy. l
Ihlhh much more effective work can be done under
nc PreseIi system To put the power of prosecU-
So sc MN me chSnce or naming perhaps dozen
M zen deputies IL various parts of the state
and The present Attorney General is Democrat.
Whether or not that has anything do with this
provision do not know With the great pressure
OF work IN the Attorney Generals Office IL would he
difficult 10 get attended 10 eXpeditiously
II Is done
What IS considered hy the State Board Of Phar-
macy as The vitality bad of the bill is the pro
vision excepting the sale Of domestic remedies"
from the supervision OF a licensed pharmacist Dr.
Bgelow said
That lets down the bars ! take il that domestic
remedies could ne construed 50 10 apply 10
everything that is sold in dru; store. except in
me prescription department The enactment OF
such law would nullify the work Of the medical
and pharma ceuticai professions for the last thirty
years. II woIld bring US Dack 10 lsS1. when any
store could sell drugs
As interpret this law. poisons or any kind OF
drugs can be sold by any long they
nave been put up under the supervision of 4
licensed pharmacist. The supervision does not have
10 be the place of selling. which may be Il
grocery or hardware store. any other place.
There are certain drugs that deteriOrate and be
come unfit for use. Ignorant persons would handle
these and sell them regardless Of whether they
were good. bad or Indifferent. Such things should
somebody licensed by the Board OF Pharmacy.
We have raised pharmacy 10 high standard IN
our attempt Ia safeguard the public in the handling
OF drugs This law would nullify II ALL
The bill is before the Committee on Public
Health Of the Senate