Pharmaceutical Considerations 43 



make his round of calls in the morning, writing 

 up-to-the-minute prescriptions that take time and 

 trouble for the druggist to compound, and yet who, 

 in his afternoon and evening office work, hands 

 out little envelopes of "Migraine" pills, "Anti- 

 neuralgic" tablets, "Coryza," "Digestive," "Anti- 

 rheumatic," "Tonsillitis," "Fever," and other com- 

 pressed tablets, either because "the other fellow" 

 dispenses that way or he imagines his patients 

 expect it as the usual and regular thing. 



If a physician does not care to dispense what he 

 would prescribe on a blank going to the druggist, 

 he is not treating his patient fairly in dispensing at 

 all, unless it be in emergency. 



The practically-minded physician will write many 

 prescriptions calling for hydrochloric acid, aconite, 

 bromides, arsenic preparations, belladonna, buchu, 

 codeine, colchicum, digitalis, ergot, iron salts, mer- 

 cury, nux vomica, thyroid gland, guaiacol, hexa- 

 methylenamin, salicylic acid, hydrastis, magnesium, 

 sulphate, cod-liver oil, wild cherry, valerian, and a 

 host of other variously assorted drugs and prepa- 

 rations of drugs; but does he dispense these same 

 things? 



Doctor, if you don't care to go to the trouble to 

 weigh out ammonium chloride or measure tincture 

 of colchicum seed in your office, be honest enough 

 to say so and to write for these things if your patient 

 needs them. 



But perhaps all he needs is a dozen one-tenth 

 grain calomel triturates. If so, well and good; go 

 ahead and dispense them. But if he needs hydro- 

 chloric acid, pepsin, and nux vomica, don't hand 



