SALE OF POISONS UNDER THE PHARMACY ACT OF 1868 . 
331 
occurrence. The more concentrated a medicine is, and the smaller the volume 
of the dose, the greater is the liability to variation in the adjustment of the 
quantity to be taken. 
There are thus two good grounds for avoiding the use of concentrated medi¬ 
cines, and for supplying to the public, whenever it is practicable, the remedies 
prescribed for the treatment of disease in the state in which they are intended 
to be administered, namely, in the first place, that the more concentrated me¬ 
dicines are the more dangerous agents, and are often capable of destroying life 
if ignorantly or carelessly administered; and, secondly, that variations in the 
adjustment of doses affect the quantities taken more seriously in highly concen¬ 
trated than in diluted medicines. 
THE SALE OE POISONS UNDER THE PHARMACY ACT 
OE 1868. 
From communications we have received from various quarters, it appears that 
many of our readers are anxious to have the provisions of the new Pharmacy 
Act relating to the selling and dispensing of poisons set before them in a con¬ 
cise and explicit form, and we have endeavoured to meet their wishes in this 
respect, as far as the means hitherto provided will admit. 
It is expected that through the provisions made in the first and second clauses 
of the Act, by which the Pharmaceutical Society, with the concurrence of the 
Privy Council, may make regulations, in addition to those specified in the Act, 
“ as to the keeping, dispensing, and selling,” of poisons, and, if necessary, may 
add to the list of poisons in the schedule, some new light may be thrown upon 
some of the requirements of the Act. In the absence of such further regula¬ 
tions it is not easy to define exactly what medicines are included in the category 
of scheduled poisons. For instance, is syrup of red poppies, as a preparation of 
poppies, to be labelled “ poison ” ? Is any preparation containing a poisonous 
vegetable alkaloid to be subject to the regulations which apply to the alkaloid 
itself ? Are solutions of emetic tartar and corrosive sublimate to be included 
in the same category with the solid substances ? These are questions to which 
w 7 e hope that complete and satisfactory answers will be implied in the regula¬ 
tions which are now under consideration, and which will no doubt be shortly 
issued. At present we are unable to do more, with reference to such questions, 
than to recommend the exercise of common sense, and the observance of such 
precautions as may appear to conduce to the safety of the public. 
In addition to questions relating to these somewhat intricate points, a ques¬ 
tion may possibly arise with reference to Apothecaries and Veterinary Surgeons. 
The 16th clause states that “ nothing hereinbefore contained shall extend to or 
interfere with the business of any legally qualified Apothecary or any member 
of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of Great Britain,” etc., and it 
may be asked, what do the businesses of these two classes of men consist in, 
and does the retailing of drugs form part of either of them ? 
A question may also arise with reference to the regulations required to be ob¬ 
served by Veterinary Surgeons under the 17th clause, for no exception is there 
made on their behalf with regard to medicines that are dispensed by them or 
supplied to their patients. It would appear, therefore, that although Veterinary 
Surgeons may sell and dispense poisons according to the usages of their busi¬ 
ness, they must, in doing so, conform to all the requirements of the 17th 
clause. 
Setting aside these questions then for the present, the broad features of the 
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