282  Editorial  V'""^"M.y''x9T6. 
this  act  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor  and  upon  conviction  shall 
be  subject  to  a  fine  of  not  more  than  one  hundred  dollars,  and  any- 
medical  practitioner  or  any  pharmacist  who  is  convicted  more  than 
once  of  violating  the  provisions  thereof  may  have  his  license  to 
practice  in  this  State  revoked. 
This  act  was  designed  to  serve  several  purposes  all  of  which  we 
believe  will  be  to  the  benefit  of  the  professional  practice  of  phar- 
macy. It  aims  to  prevent  the  unscrupulous  medical  practitioner  or 
druggist  engaging  in  the  nefarious  "booze  business."  It  restricts 
the  sale  of  distilled  spirits  and  wines  for  medicinal  purposes  to 
prescriptions  written  in  good  faith  by  the  physician  in  attendance 
when  indicated  by  the  physical  condition  of  the  patient.  In  har- 
mony with  the  Federal  statute  and  regulations,  it  limits  the  amount 
that  can  be  so  dispensed  and  prescribes  the  procedures  that  must 
be  followed  by  both  physician  and  pharmacist.  The  penalties 
provided  for  violating  any  of  the  provisions  relating  to  dispensing 
should  be  sufficient  to  deter  any  one  from  such  infraction,  as  he 
becomes  liable  to  a  fine  for  each  irregularity  of  this  type  and  further 
upon  more  than  one  conviction  for  such  offenses  the  physician  or 
pharmacist  may  have  his  license  to  practice  in  the  State  revoked. 
Under  the  existing  laws  and  regulations  of  the  U.  S.  Treasury, 
every  pharmacist  who  dispenses  distilled  spirits  or  wines,  even 
though  such  dispensing  be  done  only  on  bona  fide  prescriptions,, 
becomes  a  retail  liquor  dealer  and  must  qualify  and  pay  the  stamp 
tax  as  such  before  dispensing  any  prescriptions  for  these  or  for 
pure  alcohol  intended  for  external"  application. 
Paragraph  12,  Sec.  looi   of  the  Revenue  Act  of  191 8  pro- 
