150 PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY. 
his guarantee, the original of which should always be re- 
tained by the apothecary. 
6th. Apothecaries are likewise liable to commit errors in 
compounding prescriptions, — -^r.?/, from the imperfect hand- 
writing of the physician ; secondly^ owing to the various 
synonyms of drugs in use, and their imperfect abbreviation; 
thirdly, from the confusion which even in the best regulated 
establishments may sometimes occur, arising from press of 
business ; and fourthly ,ivom deficient knowledge or ability 
of one or more of the assistants in the shop, or of the pro- 
prietor — 
We ho(d that in the first three instances named, it is the 
duty of the physician to stand between the apothecary and 
the patient, as far as possible ; and in the last that he should 
be governed by the circumstances of the case — drawing a 
distinction between an error made by a younger assistant 
accidentally engaged, and a case of culpable ignorance or 
carelessness in the superior. 
7th. As the apothecary should be able to distinguish 
between good and bad drugs, in most cases, and as the sub- 
stitution of a weak or inert drug for an active one, may, 
negatively, be productive of serious consequences — we hold 
that the intentional sale of impure drugs or medicines, from 
motives of competition, or desire of gain, when pure articles 
of the same kind may be obtained, is highly culpable, and 
and that it is the duty of every honest apothecary or drug- 
gist to expose all such fraudulent acts as may come to his 
knowledge. But in reference to those drugs which cannot 
be obtained in a state of purity, he should, as occasion 
off'ers, keep physicians informed of their quality, that they 
may be governed accordingly. 
8th. As there are many powerful substances that rank as 
poisons, which are constantly kept by apothecaries, and 
prescribed by physicians, and which are only safe in their 
hands, as arsenious acid, vegetable alkaloids, ergot, cantha- 
