Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-03

Answering a flood of questions in
volving the operations of the anti
narcotic law, the internal revenue
bureau has made tentative rulings on
The main problems confronting the adj
ministrators of the law and those who
will be registered under the law and
those who will be consumers of drugs
under the restrictions set by the law.
Practice may show the necessity for
changes in the rulings made and opin-
ions given: the answers. given to the
problems are those suggesting them
selves as most proper. without the aid
of experience to disclose their effect
under operation. Among these rulings
these:
A consumer, as such, is not allowed
10 register and pay the special tax.
In order to obtain the drugs falling
within the scope of the law II Will De
necessary for such consumer TO present
a proper prescription.
A physician, dentist or veterinarian
r3ust actually be absent from his once
and in personal attendance on a patient
IN order to apply narcotics TO the
needs OF patient without making rec
ord of the incident they must keep
record of all drugs covered ny the
provision of the law. sold. hartered, ex-
changed or given away ~ ONCE or
place of business.
In signing prescriptions a physician
may sign his name as he would on
legal document or on check. j. H.
Jones' or John H. Jones" or John
Henry Jones' as the case may be-
Only original prescriptions can be
allied by druggists and apothecaries,
ana cannot be retilled without Niolat-
ing the intent of the law
Druggists can only dispense drugs
and preparations falling within the
scope of the law upon the written
original prescription of duly regis
tered physician. dentist or veterinarian.
The original and duplicate order forms
are only to be used for obtaining a
supply of drugs and preparations COW
cred by the law and cannot take the
place of a prescription.
druggist will not be allowed to
Ill any prescrlpt on calllng Tor pro
scribed drugs, ordered over the tele-
pbone unless the druggist, when deliv-
ering the preparation or drug so called
for, shall receive in exchange prop
erly prepared prescription signed ny
the physic an who gave the telephone
order In every case the druggist must
have on file a properly prepared pre-
scription and such prescription must
be obtained before the drug or prepa-
ration called for is delivered II a phy-
.isr to send certain drugs or prepara-
lions covered by the law, that physl-
can should at once prepare the proper
prescription and have it ready TO eA-
change with the person delivering the
drug or preparation.
a retail druggist in filing prescrip-
ton calling tor any drugs coming
within the scope of the law Is not re-
CURED to demand receipt at time OF
delivery of medicine to the patient or
10 the person receiving it for the pa
tient.
Druggists who sell at wholesale and at
retail must register i'll both capacities.
\ person who is duly registered ply
stefan may issue properly prepared pre-
scriptions for drugs coming within the
scope of the law and have them filled
at Il drug store, also registered, OF which
the physician is proprietor, PROVIDED sucn
prescriptions are issued to patient upon
whom the physician regularly attends. Ii
the physician intends to obtain supply
of drugs for his own use. it will be neces-
sary for him TO procure such drugs by
use of the regular order form
Collectors would be justified in issuing
a registry number in the case of country
merchants who sell patent medicines COM
ing within the scope of the law but such
medicines could only be dispensed by them
upon the presentation of a properly pre-
pared prescription by duly registered
physician.
A nurse can obtain a supply of drugs
ouIy through a properly prepared pre-
scriptioH written by duly registered
physician
Exemptions provided in section of
the law are held to apply only to United
States pharmacopoeia standard prepara-
rons, or to remedies prepared under pr1-
waite formula such as are usually carried
in stock by druggists and dispensed with
out prescription. and not to pseudo
preparations or remedies prepared, pre-
scribed or sold on account of the narcotic
drug contained therein.
Opium is defined as it is defined in
the U. S. Pharmacopeia. In making cal
culations upon the amount of opium
present in any given preparation, the
L. 5. Pharmacopeia standard Tor Opi1
Pulvis powdered opium). containing
u per cent to 1215 per cent of NOR
phine will be taken.
Any Imminent, ointment or other prep
aration containing drugs not specific
ally exempt by law ased for oral,
nasal. ocular or other. physical cav
ity is not an external use of such
preparation. and is not, therefore. ex-
empt from the provisions of the law.
Every person. firm or company dis
pensing directly to consumers any of
the prescribed drugs was required to
prepare an inventory March l, and will
he required to keep such inventory on
fle for inspection by government or
ficials.
Each department of a college. uni
versity or other educational institution
using any of these drugs not specifical-
" exempt should register under the
name of the institution and show I'M
mediately below it's name the name OF
the dean or other person in charge OF
such department. and a record should
be kept of all drugs dispensed or dis
trihuted in each department.
Where shipper acknowledged re-
Sept OF an order, the date Of such
acknowledgement will be considered the
date OF acceptance. Where no &C
knowled gment Is made and the goods
are simply shipped. the date of ship
ment Will be considered the date of ac-
ceptance.
Where any such drug or preparation