262  Pha7'maceutical  Colleges  and  Associations.  {^"^May'^iS?^"^' 
he  will  write  on  it  "  Not  to  be  renewed,"  and  that  prescriptions  so  marked  should  not  be  renewed  hy  the- 
pharmacist  without  the  order  of  the  physician. 
Resolved,  That  members  of  this  Association  will  withhold  their  support  and  patronage  from  such  drug- 
gists as  thus  fail  in  their  duty  to  their  own  profession,  or  disregard  the  directions  of  the  physicians  in  refer^ 
ence  to  renewals. 
Resolved,  That  the  interests  of  the  medical  profession  are  safe  in  the  hands  of  reputable  pharmacists^ 
who  govern  themselves  according  to  the  Code  of  Ethics  of  the  College  of  Pharmacy  of  the  District  of 
Columbia. 
Resolved,  That  professional  courtesy  lietween  physicians  and  pharmacists  demands  that  a  due  regai'd  be- 
shown  towards  each  other  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  prescriptions,  that  neither  may  be  unduly  reflected 
upon  nor  comiiromised. 
In  justice  to  tbe  gentlemen  representing  tlie  Medical  Association,  it 
should  be  stated,  that  on  the  day  before  the  meeting  of  their  Association 
they  addressed  our  committee  a  note  advising  us  of  the  j^robable  failure  of 
our  code  before  their  Association.  The  report  and  resolutions  as  adopted 
by  the  Medical  Association  were  printed  in  the  daily  papers,  and  immedi- 
ately excited  a  lively  criticism  in  the  press  and  among  all  classes  of  people. 
The  following  editorial  from  the  "  Evening  Star,"  April  9th,  one  of  our 
principal  daily  papers,  reflects  very  fairly  the  popular  opinion  in  our  com- 
munity on  the  sul)ject,  and  is  given  for  this  reason  and  not  as  expressive 
of  the  pharmacist's  view,  who  does  not  claim  the  right  to  prescribe  for  the 
sick. 
In  the  contest  which  has  arisen  between  the  medical  society  and  the  druggists  of  Washington  it  is 
likely  tliat  the  sympathies  of  the  public  will  be  altogether  with  the  latter  class.  There  may  be  and  prob- 
ably are  cases  where  compounders  of  prescriptions  exceed  the  just  limitations  of  their  business,  but  to  meet 
these  it  is  unwise  for  the  physicians  to  undertake  to  put  the  w'hole  guild  under  a  ban  and  to  assume- 
powers  which  do  not  belong  to  them  and  which  they  will  find  they  cannot  exercise.  After  a  patient  ha& 
bought  and  paid  for  a  prescription  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  is  his  or  her  property,  in  law  and  equity,, 
and  n  ither  the  physician  nor  the  druggist  has  any  proprietary  right  in  or  control  over  it.  It  is  simply 
left  by  its  owner  with  the  latter,  by  usage,  for  convenience  and  reference.  If  it  is  desired  to  have  it 
renewed,  that  would  seem  to  be  a  (juestion  of  safety  and  propriety  between  the  patient  and  the  druggist;, 
and  while  it  is  possible  that  slight  abuses  may  have  been  practiced  occasionally  in  such  connection,  there- 
is  no  reason  to  believe  that  the  good  sense  of  either  party  would  allow  them  to  assume  proportions  calling 
for  any  such  arbitrary  and  sweeping  action  as  is  proposed  for  a  remedy.  Again,  in  the  matter  ot  furnishing 
certain  kinds  of  medicines,  or  of  giving  advice  in  simple  cases,  either  voluntarily  or  on  request.  These  are 
things  that  will  adjust  themselves  pretty  satisfactorily,  as  a  rule,  and  they  cannot  be  regulated  by  any  num- 
1ier  or  kind  of  resolutions  that  may  be  framed.  People  will  be  apt  to  go  where  they  can  be  or  think  they 
can  be  served  best,  which  is  always  the  cheapest  in  the  end  ;  and  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  they  would, 
always  be  worse  off  by  taking  the  advice  of  a  druggist  instead  of  consulting  a  physician.  Experience  and 
observation  are  worth  a  good  deal  in  any  oceupation,  and  nobody,  we  suppose,  would  pretend  that  a  slightly 
sick  person  might  not  be  better  off  sometimes  in  the  hands  of  a  good  druggist  than  in  those  of  a  poor  phy- 
sician, no  matter  what  the  weight  of  diploma  might  be. 
In  the  meantime  the  National  College  of  Pharmacy,  being  advised  of  the 
action  of  the  Medical  Association,  resolved  to  lay  the  whole  subject  on  the 
table. 
As  may  be  seen,  the  resolutions  of  the  Medical  Association  were  directed 
against  the  pharmacists  as  individuals ;  it  was  therefore  deemed  i^roper  to 
reply  to  them  as  such.  Accordingly,  the  following  reply  was  circulated 
among  the  pharmacists,  and  received  the  signature  of  every  one  to  whom 
it  was  presented,  save  and  except  four.  It  was  first  presented  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Medical  Association,  and  subsequently  a  copy  furnished  the 
press  for  publication : 
To  the  Medical  Association  of  the  District  of  Columbia: 
Gentlemen — We  have  received  and  considered  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Relations  between  Phy- 
sicians and  Pharmacists,  adopted  by  the  Medical  Association,  April  4, 1881.    In  response  thereto  we  beg 
