The New York herald., 1922-03-12
URGES LAW TO BLOCK
DRUG Store SALOON
Present State Pharmacy Act
No Protection, Asserts
Director Day.
SHOPS ARE DOTTING CITY
Are Unlicensed Shelters fol
Persons Selling Bootleg
Liquors.
SHOPS ARE DOTTING CITY

A new State pharmacy law was
recommended yesterday by Ralph A.
Day, State prohibition director. to
combat the growth Of drug stores
which have for their chief purpose
the illicit sale of liquor. Mr.. Day said
this type Of drug store. made possible
under the present pharmacy law, was
rapidly taking the place of the corner
saloon.
He said he had just received a
memorandum from the Retail Drug
gists Association, in which it was
stated that applications for the regis
tration of more than 125 new drug
stores have been received by the State
Board of Pharmacy within the last
two weeks. and that during 1921 sew
eral hundred new stores were opened
in various sections of the city.
Under the existing law any person,
an alien or a citizen, may own a drug
store, whether licensed pharmacist or
not. The only requirement Is he must
have a licensed pharmacist or druggist
in charge. Once a man has registered
as the owner Of drug store the pro-
hibition director is powerless to refuse
him permit for the sale of liquor on
prescription. unless he Is later caught
In the evasion OF tho law
Mr.. Day said he was in favor of a
bill now before the State Senate by
which drug store owners would be re-
quired to be licensed pharmacists or
druggists.
furthermore, said Mr.. Day. "defi-
mite requirement as to the size of stock
is required of wholesale druggists in al
loting their supply of spirits. but the
retail druggist who opens up with a
toothbrush and bar of soap Is legally
entitled to his liquor as well as the
next druggist.
IF this condition Is permitted to con-
tinue the State will be flooded with
drug stores that care nothing for the
drug end of pharmacy. but who solely
rely on Illicit trade in narcotics and
liquor. The present situation Is a men,
ace to the public health. because many
persons who are buying whisky OF
brandy for medicinal purposes go to
the drug store in confidence they will
get BoOd Stull ana may TeCelNe liquor
that is dangerous to drink. as our tests
have shown. The situation also is most
unjust to the legitimate druggist"
Director Day issued further warning
against the denatured alcohol which is
being used in vast quantities by liquor
law violators of all sorts. Hundreds OF
bootleggers," he said, ARE attempting
to withdraw the poisonous elements
from denatured alcohol in order to sell
1t as whiskey. Sometimes they succeed
and sometimes they don't. Often this
stuff is bottled and labelled so 1t Is very
deceptive.
Various methods of coloring are be-
ing employed to transform the stuff into
bootleg liquor. among them iodine, and
while the resultant fake whisky does
not necessarily kill, blind or paralyze.
the tissues OF the stomach are destroyed
and organs generally so affected that
disease Is certain to ensue.
THE process Of denaturing alcohol
requires either bichloride Of mercury.
similar disdnfectant, and the compound
ing of bootleg whisky brings into USE
lead, copped and zinc poisons. to say
nothing of fusel oil.
II learn from specialists In the treat
ment OF psychopathic cases that the
toxins in home brews and moonshine
are cumulative and remain permanently
in the system, frequently producing a
condition OF imbecility which resembles
perpetual drunkenness without the ex-
hilarating effect for which liquor is
taken"