The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-11
PEOPLES FORUM
A Dangerous Practice

Editor Richmond Nirginian:
Sir-The indiscriminate habit or custom of
physicians debating their prescriptions through
she teiephohe TO the druggist is one that should
he deprecated and disco9Int ntsf4ged az an 3s.f
likely to be attended with uncertain and fear
ful consequences. as has been verified in tho
case of the recent death of a child who was
given bichlorde of mercury "a poison) in
stead OF mild chloride Of mercury tcalomeD as
a result Of mistaken phonology or a sim
itarlty of telephone sounds AT best 1T is
human TO err" and it behooves US at all
tunes. TO place such safeguards around US as
may insure protection and safety. We can
readily discern the resemblance of sounds that
may be transmitted on the wires by the means
q the telephone, when such words as mild
chloride and bichloride are used: especially
When articulation is imperfect. The druggist
has his share of responsibility in the compound
ing of a prescription, and it does seem unfair
mat he should bear additional one that could
Re iegltimately avoided. Whether not the
physician used the word calomeI or the words
chloride Of mercury in the message to the
druggist this, is not the arguments so import
ant for discussion is the great danger of a
CONFUSION OF similar sounds attending the pro-
hunciauon OF a pure English any other for
elgn word. The point wish to impress is the
liability of the misconstructlon of a word or
words when they heard through a tele-
phone; whether they be OF the Latin. German
or any other languages or technicality what
SoeVer. ApropoS of the subject which shall
engage our attention at present the writer de-
slres to call the attention of telephone mis-
understandings, regarding the phraseoiogy OF
numerical sounds; such, for example. S a ablet
containing the third the thirtieth OF a grain
Of strychnine OF any other poison. as the case
may be There we have a decided symphony
consonance or similarity of sounds. Life is too
precious to be trihed with and the prescriber
cannot be too careful in his profession. 1t
should not be question OF convenience of using
the telephone, when there is danger ahead. The
writer has always commended, that a physician
should not under any circumstances. dictate
description through the telephone, and the
druggist should not receive order from any
one fo- medicine except orally. face to face:
/ or upon written order If not mis-
taken, it is unlawful in the old country, in Eu-
rope, to take the wording of a prescription
through telephone. Such law should pre-
vail in this country; Il law that should in every
sense of the word be most rigtdly enforced for
the protection of the general public. A forcible
demonstration of its need has urged to agi-
tate without delay, the necessity of q statute
that shall carry along with 1t heavy penalty
for its dsobedience. Attention, We lawmakers
We invite a further discussion of this very
grave and important subject, and hope, through
the medium Of The Richmond Virgtnian, for a
continuance Of such agitation may ulti-
mately establish a most Formidable -hulWaFk--
safeguard-a law that shall be enforced for
the benefit of the public.
RANDOLPH.