pharmacy as a subject of law-making by that Act would likely be followed by an avalanche of pharmaceutical legislation by would-be statesmen and reformers. This prediction has been abundantly fulfilled. Each year the flood of measures introduced into Congress and state legistures has constantly increased, and it is estimated that during the past year these various legislative bodies have had before them a total of several thousand measures proposed to regulate or restrict some phase of the drug business. The indications are that this disposition to regulate the pharmacist's business by statute has not yet reached high tide, and consequently that for many years to come we must be prepared to maintain an aggressive and efficient legislative policy, or suffer the drug business to be burdened with so many diverse enactments as to be almost impossible of continuance. While a very few of the proposed measures would be really effective in promoting the public welfare, the large majority are entitled to no further commendation than the fact that their authors were animated by intentions which were good, though, unfortunately, their ignorance of the subjects they propose to regulate is so vast that their schemes, if enacted into law, would be destructive rather than regulative. As an example of this class, we may cite a certain carbolic acid bill introduced last winter into our own general assembly, which provided that carbolic acid should not be sold except in solution of not less than a specified strength. Of course this was just the opposite of what the law-maker wanted to do, and his measure. if enacted, would have prevented druggists from dispensing carbolic acid in solutions of a safe degree of concentration. Others of the proposed measures, alas! do not deserve even the compliment of good intentions, but are devised with no other motive than to stimulate the interests affected to contribute liberally to the support of a lobby to secure their defeat. Of the principal measures which came before the general assembly of this state during the past year, the following are deserving of special mention: The Duffey Bill. This was a bill to amend the law regulating the sale of the principal habit-forming narcotic drugs. As originally draughted, the measure would have made it practically impossible to sell preparations containing any of the named drugs in the smallest weighable proportion; notwithstanding the fact that the proportions of the drugs were so minute and their combination with other drugs of such a nature that they could not by the widest stretch of imagination be expected either to create a habit or satisfy one already existing. The result would have been to place quite unnecessary restrictions upon the use of a large number of important and harmless preparations. The Committee got to work within two days after the bill was introduced and, after strenuous effort, succeeded in obtaining fairly obtaining fairly proper amendments before it became a law. The law as it now stands covers opium, morphine, codeine, their acetyl and ethyl derivatives, such as heroin and dionin; also cocaine, alpha and beta eucaine, alypin, and any of their alkaloids, salts, derivatives or compounds, or any synthetic equivalent of any of them, either as to physical properties or physiological action. All of these drugs can now be sold only upon the prescription of a duly licensed physician. The prescription must be written, and hence druggists cannot dispense these substances upon the verbal or telephone order of a physician; nor can a prescription for any of the drugs named be refilled. The question has been raised as to whether the drugs can be dispensed on the written order of a dentist or veterinary surgeon? In my opinion, the word physician as it stands in the law strictly construed refers only to one who is licensed to practice medicine upon human patients. It is to be hoped that the next legislature can be induced to modify this portion of the act. As amended, the law does not require a prescription for the sale of preparations containing not more than two grains of opium, or one grain of morphine, etc., to the fluid or avoirdupois ounce. The use of the term "physical properties" in the law is, from the pharmaceutical standpoint, pure nonsense, though the committee was unable to secure its elimination. By "physical properties" the chemist and pharmacologist understand such attributes as color, specific gravity, melting point, solubility, etc., properties which have absolutely no connection with physiological action. Should this portion of the law be enforced as it is written, it might have the effect of prohibiting the sale of many of the simplest and most harmless compounds known, such as sugar, common salt, etc., and therefore we shall have to rely upon the courts to read into the law the common sense which its authors omitted. The Agricultural Commisiosn Law. The next most important measure of interest to pharmacists is the so-called Agricultural Commission Law, which condenses into a single commission the various State Departments and Commissions having to do with laws relating to agriculture and foods and drugs. The Commission consists of four members, three of whom are appointed by the Governor and one by the Board of Trustees of the Ohio State University. Each member serves for six years, and is to receive a salary of $5,000.00 per annum. The Commission succeeds to all the rights, authority and powers formerly exercised by the State Board of Agriculture, Board of Live Stock Commissioners, Board of the State Agricultural Experiment Station, State Dairy and Food Commissioner, Commission of Fish and Game, State Board of Veterinary Examiners, and of the State Board of Pharmacy, except such duties as relate to the examination and registration of pharmacists and assistant pharmacists. The new commission is given farreaching powers with respect to live. stock diseases, stock foods, fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, sanitary inspection, chemistry and bacteriology, etc., and has authority to establish a chemical and bacteriological laboratory in which all analyses in connection with law enforcement may be made. It is specifically provided that the commission shall enforce the laws against frauds, adulterations, or impurities in foods, drinks or drugs, and unlawful labeling, the regulation of weights and measures, narcotic drugs, and violations of the Pharmacy Act. As is well known, this measure was one of the so-called "administration measures" recommended by the Governor, and its enactment in some form was certain from the day of its first introduction. While the law is a step in the right direction in the consolidation of state departments, it is quite unfortunate that it does not provide for a representative of either pharmacy or medicine upon the commission. Agricultural interests are provided for through commissioners having practical knowledge of agriculture, but the far more difficult and technical subjects of medicine and pharmacy are left without representation. One morsel of comfort to be extracted from the commission law is that stocks of drugs in physicians' offices are now subject to the same inspection and control as the stocks of pharmacists, a very necessary and proper provision. The physician when he buys from a manufacturing house of well established reputation is as likely to procure as reliable drugs and medicines as the pharmacist himself, but when his stock is obtained, as has been too often the case, from some practically unknown concern located in the back loft of a grocery warehouse, it is likely to be, as has been often proved, of the very poorest quality. This condition, which has been a scandal to respectable physicians as well as a grievance to the druggists who are liable to prosecution for the sale of inferior drugs, is now in a fair way to be corrected. Another measure enacted, known as House Bill No. 353, by Mr. Smith, raises the examination fee of pharmacists to $10.00 and of assistant pharmacists to $5.00, but does not otherwise materially change the Pharmacy Act, and will have the effect of giving the Pharmacy Board additional and much needed revenue. House Bill No. 353, by Mr. Schaefer, gives the State Board of Pharmacy the right to suspend and revoke certificates, and give the right of appeal to the Governor and Attorney-General. House Bill No. 109, also by Mr. Schaefer, modifies the law relating to the misbranding of drugs by making false statements as to curative or therapeutic effect a punishable offense. The above represents the principal laws of interest to pharmacists passed during the session. Other measures of minor importance were introduced and defeated, or failed of being reached before the session was ended. A revised form of the bill to regulate the itinerant vending of drugs was prepared and introduced by Mr. Vonderheide in the House and Mr. Moore in the Senate, but owing to unexpected opposition which developed at the last moment fell by the wayside. It is hoped that the new committee on pharmacy laws may be more successful at the next session. In conclusion, the Chairman acknowledges the valuable assistance rendered by all members of the Committee, and especially by the two members added at the January special meeting of the Association, Mr. E. W. Harrington, and Prof. Geo. B. Kauffman, of Columbus. Mr. Harrington was indefatigable in his work, and to him was left the duty of communicating directly with the members of the committee, since the distance of the Chairman from the State Capital would have occasioned too much delay if action respecting a legislative contingency should have been delayed until news could reach the Chairman and by him be re-communicated to the other members of the committee. Owing to absence from home and great pressure of work when not absent, the Chairman has been unable to take the advice of the other members of the committee in the preparation of this report, and he therefore assumes full responsibility for any errors or misstatements which it may contain. PROCTER MEMORIAL FUND. At the first session Council reported a letter from Mr. Hancock relative to the Proctor Memorial Fund, stating that it was desired to close this matter up at the A. Ph. A. convention in Nashville. It was voted that since this matter had been in hand for a number of years that the committee having it in charge be continued with instructions to push its work to a final conclusion. REFERENDUM ON AGRICULTURAL A letter from the Ohio State Grange soliciting the co-operation of the O. S. P. A. in securing a referendum on the Agricultural Commission Law was referred back to the Association by Council. After considerable discussion it was voted to refer the matter to a committee of three appointed by the Chair with instructions to study carefully the provisions of the Agricultural Commission Law and report to His Excellency, the Governor, and His Honor the Dairy and Food Commissioner, the objections which this association has to certain features of that law and to request that they agree to our proposition to insert suitable amendments in the law at the next meeting of the general assembly and that we specifically set out that we desire a drug commissioner. The Chair appointed on this committee Messrs. Beal, Freericks and Hower. REPORT OF ORGANIZER. Mr. E. W. Harrington as Organizer reported a total of 1979 members in good standing, 279 of which were secured during the past year. He suggested that on account of the present commercial conditions in the profession that the association must also commercialize to some extent. He reported the present meeting as the largest in fifteen years and recommended the employment of an organizer for the period between January 1, 1914 and July 1, 1914. Mr. Harrington was tendered a vote. of thanks for the very efficient work he has done while acting as organizer. REPORT OF COMMITTEE AGANDA. ON PROP CHAS. W. TOBEY, Chairman. Can any one tell why the pharmacists of the country do not follow the Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary Propaganda work? If there are any reasons for ignoring these I would like to know them. This valuable authority is the work of our best talented physicians, pharmacists and chemists of this country, giving. specific directions so any registered pharmacist can manufacture any article in these works. Why not start to work and manufacture a line of pharmacopoeial and N. F. preparations showing same and sub-mitting samples to your doctor each week? Sending copies of seasonable formulas to the physician for his consideration with your personal explanation, no doubt you can get him interested in this work saving both doctor and yourself money, make quite a nice margin and familiarize yourself with the practical. part of the drug business. The physicians are getting tired of furnishing the patient medicine and if we can co-operate with him we may help re-establish the prescription business once more. If you will compare the cost of manufacturing pharmacopoeial and N. F. preparations with the price you pay reliable pharmaceutical houses it will surprise you; then your eyes may open and see it is time to stop complaining and get busy. COMMITTEE ON PAPERS AND QUERIES. Mr. W. L. B. Brittian, of Cincinnati, was Chairman of this committee and the following papers were submitted: Mistakes of Pharmacists, W. L. B. Brittian. Identity, M. Wm. Hamilton. Is Castile Soap Synonymous with Sapo U. S. P.? Azor Thurston. Publicity and Defense, Carl Winter. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ADULTERATIONS AND SOPHISTICATIONS. Mr. Azor Thurston was Chairman of this committee and submitted a report on a number of well known articles. This report is published in this issue in the department of Pharmaceutical Research. OTHER REPORTS. The usual report of the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy was read by the Secretary, Mr. M. N. Ford. The report of the Retail Druggists Mutual Fire Insurance Company was read by Mr. C. L. McIntire and that of the American Druggists Fire Insurance Company by Mr. Frank H. Freericks. Mr. Freericks submitted a resolution in regard to insurance matters, which will be found in the report of committee on resolutions. ADDRESS ON PREREQUISITE LAW. An address on the prerequisite law was delivered by Prof. Edward Spease of Ohio State. This paper will appear in this journal in the near future. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. The importance of careful consideration in committee of each resolution presented to this association before the final vote is taken cannot but be beneficial in preventing hasty action. This year's list of resolutions is less in number than heretofore, and while it lessens the work of this committee, it does not show an increase in wide-spread interest. The committee recommends the adoption of the following resolutions: From the Lucas County Branch Association. WHEREAS, A bill presented to the Ohio Legislature by Representative Duffey, of Lucas County, seriously menacing the interests of pharmacists, came before the Lucas County Branch for action; and WHEREAS, Attorney Otto L. Hankinson gratuitously offered his services in writing and aiding in securing amendments considered less harmful; therefore, be it Resolved, That the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association tender its great appreciation of interest shown; and be it further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the minutes and become a part of the annual proceedings. Resolutions from Cincinnati Druggists. WHEREAS, The druggists of the State of Ohio have been among the staunchest supporters of the National Association of Retail Druggists, and because of said fact should be represented upon the Executive Committee of said association; and WHEREAS, Mr. E. H. Thiesing, one of the valued members has rendered splendid service while a member of said Com mittee, hardly having, however, had the time to show his ability to the fullest extent; therefore be it ceutical Association in meeting assemResolved, By the Ohio State Pharmabled that the druggists of Ohio feel entitled to representation on the Executive Committee of the N. A. R. D. and that we urge the election of Mr. Thiesing of Cincinnati to membership on said committee or to the presidency of the association. Action withheld as outside our organization. President's Address. We approach the address of our President with the feeling that the mere approval of the many excellent thoughts contained therein will be inadequate and but poorly express the general approval and genuine appreciation of the membership of the O. S. P. A. 1. This committee is unanimous in its approval of the sentiments expressed by our president relative to the great loss sustained by the druggists of Ohio during the visitation of the greatest disaster of modern times. |