Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-11-06
MUCH RED TAPE
ABOUT PRESCRIPTIONS
After January 16 Physicians Can
Prescribe Not More Than
A Pint
BONA FIDE PATIENT S

To those who have been depending
upon physicians prescriptions for a
little drop, there was some confusion
in Annapolis and throughout the
State when the wartime prohibition
act went into effect. concerning the
rights of physicians.
Assurance was given yesterday.
however. at the Office of the Collector
of Internal Revenue. Baltimore, that
no change had been made up to yes
terdGy in regard to beverage and non
beverage alcohol so far as physicians
and druggists are concerned.
After January 16 next, when the
prohibition amendment is scheduled
TO go into effect. a physician will be
permitted to prescribe not more than
one pint Of beverage alcohol at one
time to any one bona fide patient and
will not be allowed to prescribe an
other pint for the same patient within
10 days. which means that no patient
can get more than one pint each 10
days, and then only by new pre-
scription, with all the forms and reg
ulations to be complied with "all
over again
NOn-BeVerage Alcohol
For non-beverage alcohol, according
to the statement of ID. c. Gilbert,
deputy clerk Of the non beverage alco-
hol department, the physician will
have to give bond and get an alcohol
permit, as the druggist will have to
do, and then the physician cannot sell
or dispense to his patients this alco-
hol, but can use it in his practice for
sterilizing instruments, cauterizing
wounds and such purposes. The ply
stefan will be allowed to dispense al
cohoI to bona fide patients only when
it is indicated.
Announcement was made yesterday
in New York newspaper, by Henry
w. Mayer, chief of the internal revenue
agents. that any duly licensed practi'
TONER of medicine may obtain permits.
without giving bond, for the purchase
of not more than two quarts of alco-
hol during period of one year by fiji.
ing Form 1877" with a~colector OF
internal revenue and executing a
sworn statement to the effect that such
alcohol is to be used In his practice
Mr.. Magef referred to Treasury De
cision 2940 So many conflicting
Treasury decisions have been made
on the whole liquor question recently
that the Collector Of Internal Revenue
hardly knows one day where he will
stand the next. But in Baltimore the
enforcers Of the law are still being
guided by Treasury Decision 1881
where the new enforcement act does
not supersede this decision.
Bound Up'In Red Tape
So at the present time any Annap
oils physician is said to be permitted
10 prescribe one quart or less of alec
holic liquors at one time to patients
under his constant personal super
vision, provided he fulfills the multi
tudinous requirements of 1T. d. 2SSl,'
such as every prescription being 'ir
i duplicate and signed by the physician
indicating clearly the name and ad
dress of the patient, the condition OF
illness for which prescribed and the
name of the pharmacist to whom-th
! prescription is to be presented; ant
he has to keep full records of eacf
such trasaction. The, druggist no
only has to keep full records, bu
| must make monthly reports to th'
Collector Of Internal Revenue, pro
vided he has made proper application
for a permit and has a retail liquor
dealers license and sees that no mar
is working" two or more physicians
and a few other details.
| 1t is difficult, but patient can still
get a quart of drinkable alcohol, pro
vided he can persuade the physician
and the druggist to wade through al
aforesaid red tape. After January l6
pint every 10 days is the alcoholic
| limit