The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-12-17
TUESDAY, DEC. II, 1907.
Rsfi,ling Prescriptions

-idert IRON, VI oho oo"o
Ro ,,d Of Health, has announced
H., it. is The purpose OF the
"a Il, prohibit druggists
tr, retl.ing prescriptions
INT the consent OF the
pny sicians writing them. 1hat
SUI regulation might in some
ne of value and really OF
haorutis possible. but If made
i.o.rule it would be arbitrary
auo unjust and very onerous.
commenting on the matter the
New Orleans States says:
The State Board of Health has
T.ssa deep public resentment by the
a~,onosition to prohibit the retilling OF
n.7.crip.icns without the consent OF
~ nhvs;cian writing it. The people
.or those prescriptions, and
tho renutable druggists who unde.-
.,.ra the hardship such an arbitrary
orse, will work, are up 10 arms
AGAINST Il, but the president OF the
hoard i, quoted as saying. III g
-. !, Louisiana would tell me hat
am wrong, it would not change my
ovin,on one io:a-" -.
All admire courage in a right
cause. but there come times when
Inconsistency in sticking to ones de-
,a~rnination may be properly charac'
terised by q term less complimentary
than courage. There can be no sound
reason given why a prescription con
I, aiming no dangerous drugs should
not he reflled. In a communication
10 the public press Mr.. Chas. Ammen'
one of the most reputable and COM
petent druggists in New Orleans
5orcibly points out wherein the pro-
posed regulation is unjust, arbitrary
and oneros< upon the citizen. de
SAYS:
urf I man in the country has q gOoo
PRESCRIPTION for Group and he is out
Of the medicine, his baby could die
vhile be Is riding miles around the
country hunting up the doctor to get
him 70 write it again. instead OF going
straight 20 have il reflled. Or II q
patient has : prescription that for Inc
hast ton or twenty years has given
him relief in heart trouble, and the
physician giving it to him is desdj e
car no longer have it refilled, ana -
many other cases distress and an
noyance will arise where no possible
good can we'll be brought about. All
PRESCRIPTIONS are Of no value II relief
can not be obtained for the sfiiccon
for which it was originally pre-.
scribed.,
The proposed order is in the highest
degrees despotic and is an outrage Np.
on the public. If it shall be inserted
in the code now in course of prcpara-
ton, the next Legislature will GER
calmly wipe from the statue books al
legislation comforting such authority
upon . public board. If the power
lodged in the State Board OF Health
to be employed in serving the public
welfare Is employed by those charged
with the duty Of administering it 90 Of
to oppress the people for the benefit
Of one profession. then the order
must be resisted until the people,
Though their representatives In the
General Assembly shall have tne
opportunity to strip the board OF sucn
s~utocratic power.
The president Of the State bosro
q Health 10 not called upon 70
s'change his opinion" but he must
remember that he II the servant, ano
not The master, Of the people, and thai
tho people have the power to compel
respect for their wishes whatever tne
opinion OF their servants may o.
There can be no objection in TN
world to an order forbidding the re-
filling Of prescriptions containing
dangerous drugs, but the people are
entitled 10 have other prescriptions
reflled % often as they may nee
them. II the Board of Health snail
stand in the way Of this elemental
right, then Il will b the Bosrd O
Health and not the people Who viii o.
hurt By the impact.
To Cane Crop.
Louisiana Planter.
The principal complaint now