190 
EDITORIAL. 
capable, the employer was as free from censure as his nearest neighbor. In 
a well regulated store, the elder assistant is responsible for the acts of his 
subordinates, in any matter relating to the service of the public committed 
to his charge, most especially so as regards physicians' prescriptions ; and 
this feeling of responsibility should not only be impressed on the chief assist- 
ant, but juniors should be early trained not to rely too much on their own 
judgment, (however strong the temptation of a laudable ambition to learn 
fast,) but in all but the most common and well understood cases, to consult 
their senior. Had Mr. McFadden pursued this course, and been directed by 
his superior to do as he did, he would have been blameless for the result; 
nor can we exonerate his companion, in this instance, from the respon- 
sibility of the act, as it was his duty to have seen that the prescription was 
properly dispensed, especially in a case where the dose was unusually large. 
On the 22d of March, according to the Evening Bulletin of that day, 
"William McFadden was sentenced to three months in the County Prison." 
Judge Parsons, after pronouncing the sentence, said " that he was con- 
vinced that the act was accidental, and it could not be attributed to a want 
of knowledge in the preparation of medicines, for the defendant was 
esteemed by distinguished physicians and professors, for his studious habits, 
and knowledge of the business in which he was engaged." 
The Judge, very properly, expressed his sympathy for the young man, 
whose excellent moral character, he hoped, would in no wise suffer by this 
unfortunate occurrence. 
Whatever opinion may be formed of the justice of this sentence by those 
whose familarity with the exigencies of a dispensing business can best 
qualify them to judge, it must be admitted that the Court has done its duty, 
and by this act has shown what may be expected in future. Our first impres- 
sion was that the punishment was too severe, in view of the accidental cha- 
racter of the error; and that it should be classed with the mistakes of 
mothers and nurses, in giving laudanum for paregoric ; but on reflecting 
that the Apothecary claims the patronage of the public on the grounds of 
his special qualification for the services they require, injustice, we cannot 
but approve of the sentence, whilst we would that a pardoning hand 
was stretched forth to relieve its subject. Let pharmaceutists be 
wise and profit by the example ; let them not only seek protection, in the 
careful selection of assistants, and the instillation into these of the respon- 
sibility that should be felt, and the accuracy that should be manifested in 
the act of dispensing ; but also place a guard against errors of inadvertence, 
by such a location, and conspicuous labelling of potent medicines, as shall 
render their unintentional substitution almost a miracle ; and above all, let 
them impress on the minds of their junior assistants, from the first day of 
their service, that no poisonous drug shall be dispensed by them without the 
knowledge and approval of their seniors, much less a physician's prescrip- 
tion, until such time as their knowledge and experience shall sanction it. 
