EDITORIAL.  473 
knowledge  these  stipulations  have  been  faithfully  adhered  to  by  the  dis- 
pensers, who  regarded  this  as  a  contract  entered  into  by  the  patient  and 
attending  physician,  and  whereby  they  were  constituted  as  the  custodian 
of  certain  properties  of  the  latter.  If  the  physician  wishes  to  guard 
against  improper  uses  being  made  of  his  prescriptions,  this  course  appears 
to  be  a  very  simple  one,  which  guards  his  supposed  right  in  the  prescrip- 
tion for  this  particular  case,  and  at  once  relieves  the  pharmaceutist  from 
all  demands  arising  from  the  supposed  right  of  the  patient  for  this  same 
prescription,  which  was  written  for  him. 
The  East  River  Medical  Association  have  taken  this  matter  into  con- 
sideration, and  at  their  stated  meeting,  held  July  2d,  adopted  the  follow- 
ing:— 
Whereas,  The  attention  of  this  Society  has  been  called  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  taking  action  relative  to  the  practice  of  druggists  renewing 
the  prescriptions  of  physicians  without  their  written  order,  thereby  in- 
juring very  materially  the  pecuniary  interests  of  the  profession,  without 
gaining  any  particular  benefit  to  themselves  ;  and 
Whereas,  In  view  of  the  graver  and  more  important  consideration  that 
the  interests  and  lives  of  patients  are,  in  consequence,  endangered,  we 
consider  it  a  duty  to  guard  to  the  utmost  of  our  ability  against  the  liabil- 
ity to  mistakes  which  should  be  prevented  rather  than  deplored  ;  be  it 
therefore 
Resolved,  That  we  cordially  invite  the  earnest  co-operation  of  every 
druggist  in  this  city,  especially  in  our  immediate  districts,  to  further  this 
laudable  purpose;  and  be  it  further 
Resolved,  That  we  respectfully  request  that  no  druggist  will  renew  the 
prescriptions  of  any  physician  connected  with  this  Society,  without  due 
authority  for  each  and  every  such  renewal.  Further,  we  will  regard  as 
unworthy  of  our  patronage  any  druggist  who  fails  to  comply  with  the  re- 
quirements of  these  resolutions. 
Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  with  a  blank  card,  be  sent 
to  each  and  every  druggist  in  our  districts,  with  a  request  that  the  card 
be  returned  within  two  weeks  to  the  Secretary,  signifying  their  intentions, 
with  reference  to  compliance,  or  non  compliance,  with  these  resolutions. 
We  do  not  object  to  the  obligations  put  upon  the  pharmaceutist  (not 
druggist)  by  these  resolutions  ;  we  are  firmly  convinced  that  all  true  follow- 
ers of  pharmacy  will,  as  far  as  in  their  power  lies,  assist  in  carrying  out 
such  an  agreement  entered  into  between  patient  and  physician.  Thus  far, 
however,  we  can  see  no  "impropriety"  in  repeating  prescriptions  without 
a  written  order, — a  practice  which  has  been  established  by  long  usage, 
which  has  been  countenanced  by  the  continued  verbal  orders  of  most  physi- 
cians, and  which  can  be  abrogated  only  by  a  course  similar  to  the  one 
pointed  out  above.  M. 
How  to  become  an  M.  D. — Some  weeks  ago,  we  had  the  pleasure  of 
receiving  a  little  sheet  headed,  Mariott's  Philadelphia  Collegiate  Agency. 
It  is  issued  by  G.  W.  Marriott,  D.D.,  M.A.,  M.D.,  and  is  made  up  of 
notices  of  the  medical  and  dental  colleges  and  some  journals,  established 
in  this  city.     The  number  before  us  knows  nothing  of  the  Philadelphia 
