Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-29
? AM the owner of one of the most fourishing

p AM the owner of one of the most flourishing
small drugstores in the city of St.
M8YNN Louis. have demonstrated that
NWU&0N man can be honest even in this much
N@&Ma abused business and prosper. For
7NNaHAN time it seemed that the only possible
fNZAaA road to success was the crooked one;
HYll0INW4 that nothing but dishonest methods
\N(Gg|M could win out But l presently
W(SGIW realized that this only tenn
W&DW porary blindness to the eternal truth.
W. When first got my diploma from
"a C<A O. the College of Pharmacy, thought
@ - that meant that knew it all; but
~ soon found that had things COM
QUO ing to me-" These dgested as they
came, and put away in my precious
box of experience had fancied that the drug business
the scientific compounding of chemicals, and
nothing but, to dismay discovered that the
human element played no small part IN it.
got my first big jolt soon after was graduated.
at the time prescription clerk in small store in
the residential section of Chicago One day patient of
Dr. brought in prescription calling for sweet spirits
of inter and antipyrin. Much perpexed, took the
paper to my employer.
"What about it?8 said he calmly.
doesn't this combination spell poison, deadly
poison?
"Yes.r
"Then what does DR.. want it for"
My employer treated the question indulgently "He
doesn't want it. It's only blunder.'
"Only bunder" repeated in amazement "You
to say this sort of thing is common
"Quite. The ordinary doctor knows mighty little
about chemistry They're forever sending in those in
compatibles ;"
nocuous in themselves, that when combined produce
poison.
"But the law holds responsible for all prescriptions,
whether the doctor plumbers or not urged.
Precisely" replied my employer. Medicine and
chemistry are distinct sciences Few are great in
both Therefore, the law ordans that the pharmacist
shall be constant check upon the doctor"
l resented the apparent injustice of this law was
to be not only scientific mixer of chemicals but
Watchdog barrier between the inevitable mistakes of
the physicians and the public, with my reputation
liberty even at stakeand all at eighteen dollars per!
WAS so much concerned with. protecting the public
that was quite unprepared for the next jolt got.
This also experience in 1ncompatlbes. found
how effective medicine might be turned into fatal
dose by inexperienced dispenser Take for instance,
a mixture of stryclnne potassium bromide and water.
In this case alkaoid strychnine is precptated by the
akal of the bromide, and should be dispensed with
shake label" reading "Shake we'll" This is fine
tonic, and looks all right to the dispenser when first
made up. But if the patient permits it to stand without
shaking at ALL and simply pours teaspoonful doses,
required, the alkaloid strychnne will be gradually
precptaed and taken with the last teaspoonfu instead
of being distributed, and is likely to prove fatal
A very common prescription the other hand, a
tonic contains morphine suphate potassium bicarbon
ate and When first made this appears be very
clear and perfect solution but the experienced dis
penser knowing the reaction of the alkaline carbonate
the alkoid salt (morphine suphate) foresees that