Secundum artem

OSU College of Pharmacy

I was interested in this torn newspaper clipping* that was saved by someone in the family. I do not know which newspaper it came from, but I suspect the Lantern due to the font, capital "L", and content. I shall update this if I ever discover it. (Letters appearing in the parenthesis are my guesses to missing letters.)

THE SYST(EM IS W)RONG

To the Editor of The L(antern?)

    Sir: Being an (Ohio) State pharmacy graduate, I (am) deeply interested in the prese(nt sit)uation. I feel a great deal of sy(mpa)thy for Dean Dye, upon whose (shoul)ders the burden of this investigation rests. I know of him as (a) man great for accuracy, system and detail.

    Accidental or otherwise, as the case may be, the practice of any druggist reading a prescription for two drugs written as R. and W. means nothing. A prescription coming from a doctor should be written in medical terms so that any registered pharmacist could fill it. I do not know whether drugs are furnished free to students or not; if not, a prescription should be given written in medical terms so as to be filled by any registered pharmacist as the law requires; if not, the method of prescribing is wrong.

    As stated above, R. and W. meant nothing to the druggist, as aspirin is a white powder not red (the color red is artificial), the practice of which should be discouraged by doctor and druggist. Had this prescription been filled by a regular registered pharmacist, as the state law requires, it would be an easy matter to trace the mistake if such was the case.

    A Loyal Ohio State Pharmacist

    Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

*Please always identify newspaper clippings with the name and date.

** According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition for "Secundum artem" is "according to the practice: in accordance with the standard procedure of a profession or trade." 

-30-