582 
Editorial. 
Am  Jour  Pharnri. 
Nov  ,  i>-So 
renewed,  but  that  the  physician  should  educate  the  patient  up  to  the  point  that  it  is- 
unsafe  to  take  medicine  without  the  physician's  orders. 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Blair,  amended  by  Dr.  Butcher,  it  was 
Keiol^edy  That  physicians,  when  writing  a  prescription  which  they  do  not  wish 
renewed,  should  nx)rite  on  the  bottom  of  such  prescription  "  Do  not  renew,"  and 
also  inform  the  patient  of  the  fact  in  every  case  5  and  on  the  other  hand,  the  drug 
gist  should  either  '^rite  or  print  on  the  label  upon  the  bottle  or  package  "  Not  to  be 
renewed  unless  by  a  written  order  of  the  doctor." 
We  are  glad  that  this  plan  has  been  agreed  upon  j  but  whether  it  will  work  the 
desired  reform  we  are  inclined  to  doubt.  By  long  usage  the  patient  has  a  right  to  a 
copy  of  the  prescription,  and  if  he  demands  it,  even  to  the  original..  This  was- 
alluded  to  in  the  discussion  and  an  amendment  was  offered  "  that  no  copy  be  fur- 
nished," but  was  afterwards  withdrawn.  However,  even  if  it  had  been  adopted,  there 
is  nothing  to  prevent  the  patient  from  taking  a  copy  of  the  prescription,  instead  of 
the  original,  to  the  drug  store.  That  the  subject  is  not  easily  settled  by  passing 
resolutions  was  felt  by  some  of  the  speakers  who  suggested  its  settlement  by  a  suit 
in  equity  or  by  legislative  enactment. 
The  adoption  of  a  "  medical  and  pharmaceutical  code  for  mutual  observance  by 
which  the  Irgltimate  province  of  pharmacy  and  the  professional  rights  of  physicians 
shall  be  secured"  was  repeatedly  alluded  to,  and  Dr.  Ptall  thought  that  this  would 
overcome  the  difficulties,  and  that  then  druggists  could  always  discourage  renewals 
as  a  duty,  especially  when  the  ingredients  were  injurious  to  be  taken  for  any  length 
of  time.  We  submit  that  there  is  a  vast  difference  between  discouraging  and  refus- 
ing renewals,  and  that  in  the  cases  cited  conscientious  pharmacists  regard  it  astbeir 
duty  to  caution  the  patients  against  the  injury  likely  to  result  from  the  continued- 
use  of  dangerous  drugs. 
At  the  adjourned  meeting,  held  October  8,  the  subject  of  discussion  was  counter 
prescribing.  Besides  the  difficulty  of  exactly  defining  what  is  meant  by  "prescrib- 
ing over  the  counter,"  and  how  far  the  pharmacist  is  justified  in  expressing  an 
opinion  as  to  the  choice  of  simple  remedies,  the  discussion  did  not  bring  forth  any 
new  points.  On  the  part  of  the  physicians  charges  were  made,  while  the  pharni  iclsts 
present  denied  the  same  applying  to  them  ;  evidently  the  advice  in  our  last  issue, 
not  to  burden  on  either  profession  the  misdoings  of  some  of  its  members,  was  not 
heeded.  Attention  was  called  to  the  code  of  ethics  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy,  and  on  motion  of  Professor  Remington  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted  : 
Resol-vedy  That  as  the  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  disease  belong  to  the  province 
of  a  distinct  profession,  and  as  a  pharmaceutical  education  does  not  qualify  the 
pharmacist  for  these  responsible  offices,  he  should*  where  it  is  practicable,  refer  appli- 
cants for  medical  aid  to  a  regular  physician. 
The  Philadelphia  pharmacy  law  was  then  alluded  to,  and  it  was  stated  that,  if 
faithfully  carried  out,  it  would  prevent  the  sale  of  drugs  and  poisons  by  incompetent 
men.  The  hope  was  expressed  that  the  time  might  not  be  far  off  when  it  would  be 
settled  for  the  public  who  are  competent  physicians  ;  a  bill  to  that  end  would  be 
presented  to  the  next  legislature. 
Motions  were  made  and  carried  requesting  the  editor  of  the  "American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy"  to  publish  a  brief  report  of  these  meetings  ;  thanking  Professor  Reming- 
