The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-08-13
LIQUORS NO LONGER DRUGS

LIQUORS NO LONGER DRUGS
Hitherto whisky and brandy have
figured officially as drugs" in the u.
S. Pharmacopoeia, which is the au-
thoritative list of medicinal prepare
lions recognized by physicians. This
list Is now in process of revision, and
the committee in charge have voted to
remove whisky and brandy from it.
Exactly what effect this will have
upon the retail trade in alcoholics
carried on through the medium of
drug-stOres seems a little doubtful
1t is probable that many druggists
may consider it a relief to be freed
quors. Says the editor of Weekly
Drug Markets New York, July 14 +:
THE announcement that the Com
mittee of Revision have voted by the
narrow margin of 26 to "a to exclude
whisky and brandy from the forth
coming edition of the United States
by many in the trade az the culmina-
ton of a controversy that has been
the subject of much discussion. Many
druggists have sold these liquors for
medicinal purposes under the custo-
mary restrictive measures imposed by
the national and state authorities, be-
ing guided in their action by the be-
lief that they had a right and duty
to supply all medicinal remedies, and
that as whisky and brandy were Of
ficially recognized in the Pharma-
copoeia they were in good standing
as remedies.
But the sentiment has strongly
developed within recent years, among
reputable pharmacists and medical men
that liquors should be deleted from
the Pharmacopoeia on the ground
that they are not distinctly medicinal
agents and are not necessary in the
production of official medicinal prep
arations. In the present Pharmaco-
pOSaUp hSit'Si "hiSNy hOi u amy 10
directed to be used in the manufac-
ture of other preparations, so that
their retention in the official guide up
to the present time must be consider
ed solely on the ground of their pos
sible use as medicinal agents. In the
face of the sentiment as to the actual
remedial value of these spirits, from
a medical point of view at least, il
would seem that 'Othello's occupa-
tons gone,
"The fear has been expressed il
some quarters that this elimination
may make it impossible for druggist!
after January l next to sell whisky
or brandy without taking out saloon
license. But this contention is largely
problematical Many druggists viii
welcome the failure officially to rec
ognize these spirits as an excuse Il
relieve them from taking out license
and it's accompanying restrictive reg
ulations which have proved so oner
Gus to we'll meaning men. We have
heard many druggists declare that the
quantities of these products sold b,
them in response to legitimate de
mands were inconsequential, and from
such sales they never realized, direct
ly or indirectly, enough to pay th'
cost of the special tax certificate re
quired by the Internal Revenue
authorities. One can we'll believe tina
as matter of financial interest sucl
sales have not been worth the effor
and responsibility they cost, while al
nuisance and demoralizing agenc.
they have always required caution ant
discriminating judgment.
with the elimination of whisky ant
brandy from the Pharmacopoeia, tn
fact that the druggist does not kee
them for sale as medicines can no
be urged as blot upon his profes
sional reputation. The liquor situa
ton has been one of the most unsatis
factory subjects with which the drug
eist has had to deal. and the pharma
cist who does not wish to have him