Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-05-01
RRFILLsD PRESCRIPTIONS.


druggist of New Orleans. severely
land it seems to us IN most m
stances justly-criticises the drug
regulations adopted by the State
Board of Health at last Saturdays
meeting; particularly those Sec
tions having to do with the re-
filling of prescriptions. 1t will be
remembered that when this mat
ter was first preached, the presi-
dent of the board proposed to pro-
hibit absolutely the refilling OF all
prescriptions, save on the order
of the physician. The public pro-
test against this proposition was
so strong that it was greatly mod
flied, the popular understanding
being that the reflled prescrip-
tions of a harmless nature and
containing no habit-forming drugs
i'm dangerous amounts, would not
be interfered with. In the regn--
lations adopted yesterday the
number of drugs prescribed as
"habit-forming" has apparently
been somewhat increased. Not
only so, but the refilling of any
prescription, regardless of its in
Igredients, upon which the ply
stefan writes the words "do not
refill" is prohibited. 1t is furth-
Ter provided that "no prescription
+ shall be refilled by any druggist
unless signed by registered ply
stefan qualified under the laws of
the State to practice medicine"
The only exception to this is the
provision that prescriptions OF
the travelling public, where the
authenticity of the prescription is
unquestioned, are exempt"
Under these clauses the refilling
of all prescriptions, mo matter
: what their character, may be pro.
J hibited by indirection, if the ply.
+ sicians so elect, quite as effective.
3 ly as if the prohibition we're di
: rect, as was first contemplated
D More, the use of prescription
r signed by physicians of eminer
: standing and reputation in othel
o States is barred by the clause las
9 referred to. Patients who may
have been under treatment ii
i other States and following reg
: ularly prescribed course of treat
: ment would be compelled by thi
|, cIanse to abandon it and to plac
10 themselves under the charge of
d Louisiana doctor, paying owe
n again the charges for consulta
n ton, examination, etc.
s. Other Inconsistencies, ambigu
p tiles and ahsurdities are peinte
out by Mr.. Ammen in his letter
Those above noted are sufficient
we think, to prove the need G
y further revision and correction G
. the regulations. While the nece'
g. sity for regulation of the sale c
be habit-forming or deadly drugs
'g admitted, the State board, in il
present regulations, has not onl
overshot the mark but has in
to posed restrictions that will wor
hardship to the public. Whethe
IS. INTENDED or not, the effect of til
II regulations is to force the patient
IS to more frequent calls upon the
physicians and to increase til
n financial burdens of sickness tbs
Us are already, in many pitiful case
overheavy.
N. Some of the regulations are fl
ial more drastic than is necessary f,
me the protection of the public healt
and their rigor will operate to Il
~ injury, rather than to the benefi
in. of the suffering. The assumptit
he that the prescription, whatever i
character, is the property of Il
rs physician who sells it, and tn
~ the patient who buys it has /
he title whatever, is, we think, grav
ly questionable In law. Beyoi
:. doubt the enactments will opera
No. to the advantage of the medic
ne practitioners, who are not, as
ke class, in need of special privilege
IN, but it is difficult to see where &
ne public will derive sufficient o
% vantage to offset the addition
en- burdens, financial aud otherwis