Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-11
ALCOHOL Cl.ASSED
HARMFUL. NARCOTIC:
BY DR.. Il. ". WILEY
Talks to Pharmacopoeial
Convention of ''Profiteering
in Prescriptions"

Physicians should be required to
whisky and brandy in a given period
now than they wrote previous TO
1914. since there is no more neces-
sity for whisky and brandy now than
then. according to nr. Harvey w
Wiley. retiring president of the
United States pharmacopOeiai con-
vention. at the opening session today
a, the New willard Hotel.
This plan TO prevent ''profiteering
In prescriptions was advocated by
Or. Wiley in his presidential address
to the physicians. and pharmacists
who gathered today to make the
tenth revision and celebrate the one
hundredth anniversary of the United
States pharmacopoe1a. tn nationa
hook Of standards for drugs used D!
the medical profession.
pr. Wiley stated that his remarks
against the placing "f whisky 'sh'
brandy hack into thu pnarnac"p""
whence the, were r-"io>ed Al IN
1ast meeting. ten Wears ago. wer- NOT
:" much directed against Their ~
clusion as to bring forrihiy 10 TIN
attention of the pharmacopoeia re-
vision committee the true status o.
"alcohol. that dreadful narcotic. a.
he labeled il.
Physician "IeadinE offender
THE physician is the leading Of
fender" DIR. Wiley declared. 'rh'
pharmacist is only doing his duty
when he fills prescriptions for whisky
and brandy. If the writing OF pre-
srrptions for whisky and brandy arr
abused the medical profession must
accept the greatest part or the crit
icism and blame.
In. Wiley compared the admInistra-
ton of whisky and brandy in thos.
dreadful diseases pneumonia and in
fuenza. TO the blood winch
tn. medical profession practlced IL
past times. and inStanced the case ~
George Washington. who. when nearly
dead Al Mount Vernon. was bled.
To-day when the suffering mortal Is
about moribund what little vitality he
has left is smother,d by that dreadful
narcotic alcohol DR. Wiley said.
Il hope the work Of the last couven-
ton will not be undone.' he continued.
Dr. Wiley reviewed tine action of the
ninth convention held ten years ago.
when whisky and brandy were excluded
from the pharmacopoeia. following tn"
sending of an extensive questionna re 20
physicians throughout the country. ask
ing as to their prescriptions OF whisky
and brandy TO patients
Replies to the Query.
A large number of the medical pro-
fession at that time. DIR. Wiley stated.
replied that they had not prescribed
"these so-called remedies While the
exclusion Of alcohol and brandy was by
no means unanimous recognition by
the revision committee. he said. it
brought out the cold facts regarding
alcohol as narcotic and not a stimu-
liant.
AT the present time there is an
entirely different situation existing.
DIR. Wiley continued. In the supreme
sacrifice the voice Of all in our coun-
try was opposed TO alcoholic bever-
ages. Now under an amendment to
our Constitution and the law which
carries it into. effect physicians and
pharmacists are made the only avenue
by which whisky and brandy may be
sold.
The bureau Of internal revenue
has recognized these products not as
medicines. but has classed the doc
tors and Pharmacists who handle
them as retail liquor dealers.
Calls IL .Rema rk n bic Condition.
This Is a remarkable condition of
affairs. ! do not believe any repu-
table doctor or pharmacist will go
into. the business of retailing liquor.
or course. We all know that in every
profession there are always some to
bring criticism on the profession.
Recently we have had a large expert
ence in profiteering-nOw are we to
have pronteering in prescriptions"
DIR. Wiley urged that members of
the medical profession of the Latin
American countries and of Canada be
allowed to sit with the decennial con-
ventions of the pharmacopoeia body.
Our island possession also should be
included. he added.
DR.. Wiley touched the delegates
from all parts Of the United States
when he concluded his presidential
address with the words: My work il
about ended / am at an age when I
know my work is about finished
Tribute to the Dead.
A standing tribute to those of the
convention who had died in the past
ten years was paid by the delegates.
following which the reports Of officers
were heard. The question OF reducing
the alcoholic content Of various drugs
in the book of standards. and the
question Of what to do with various
"elixers' that have been frowned
be worked out in further sessions
along with the question as to whisky
and brandy.
Delegates are attending the conven-
ton from all parts of the country The
United States government is repre-
scented by delegates from the medical
departments Of the Army and Navy.
the United States public health serv-
ice and the Department Of Agricul-
tur1.
Distriet Delegates.
The District Of Columbia is repre-
scented by delegates as follows:
George Washington University. Ma
tional college of Pharmacy. Dr. Har-
vey ". Wiley. Lewis Flemer and
Samuel l.. Hilton: Medical Society of
III" District of columbia. Dr. Philip
S. Roy. Dr. r. G. Seibert and DR. Noble
=. Barnes: School of Medicine
Georgetown University. Or. Ryan
bevereaux, Or. Wilfred NJ. Barton and
DR.. Lyman r. kebler. and the George
Washington University. medical de-