In the case of David Thorp, of Van Wert, Decatur county, notice having failed to reach him because of his having removed from Van Wert, final action was also deferred.

Regulation number 11 was adopted and ordered published.

At the annual meeting, June 7, 1883, the case of James Fitzgerald, of Emmetsburg, was again brought up. No additional evidence having been received, Commissioner Crawford was directed to go to Emmetsburg and investigate the matter personally.

After receiving and approving the report of the Secretary and Treasurer for the year ending June 7, 1883, Commission adjourned sine die.

Commissioner Weaver's first term having expired, but having been re-appointed by you for another term, the new Board, consisting now of R. W. Crawford, George H. Schafer and C. A. Weaver, met on the same day and organized by electing R. W. Crawford, President, George H. Schafer, Vice-President, and C. A. Weaver, Secretary and Treasurer, for ensuing year.

October 10, 1883, the Board met for the purpose of hearing additional testimony in the case of James Fitzgerald, of Emmetsburg, James Fitzgerald being present in response to a summons to appear to show cause why his certificate should not be revoked. Commissioner Crawford then submitted, in writing, on oath, what he had learned and seen in his investigation while at Emmetsburg. After reading the charges to James Fitzgerald, he plead guilty to having sold liquor to more than one person as a beverage, and that he kept liquors in his back room, in a place or cupboard like a regular bar in a saloon. He having plead guilty in addition to court records of conviction, his certificate number 1760 was ordered revoked, and his name stricken from the State Pharmacy Register, as per order number five.

The case of L. Wells, of Des Moines, Iowa, was then taken up for further hearing, he having been notified to show cause, on or before September 3, 1883, why his certificate should not be revoked, his answer up to that time not being deemed satisfactory. His certificate, number 43, was ordered to be revoked, but on his presenting additional answers, the order was suspended for the consideration of these additional answers. But no good and sufficient reason appearing to these additional answers, the former order was affirmed, and his name ordered to be stricken from the State Pharmacy Register, the order to take effect this day, October 10, 1883, as per order number six.

COMPLAINTS ON VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.

Of the complaints made to the Commissioners for alleged violations of the Pharmacy law, most of them have been anonymous communications, to which in most cases no attention has been given; but all complaints emanating from a source where reliable parties have been willing to subscribe their names, or make complaints in person, the Commissioners have endeavored to investigate, and have righted, as far as possible, all irregularities; and whenever deemed necessary, a member of the Commission has been sent to investigate the alleged violations.

Delays seeming unnecessary to some aggrieved individuals have caused some mutterings, but the Commissioners have carefully endeavored not to in any instance over-step the authority vested in them, and, without a precedent, have been compelled to take the initiative all through, feeling their way. Some of our acts have caused litigation, and required the employment of legal counsel - in fact, protracted and expensive litigation-but we are glad to state that in all cases our acts have been sustained.

The basis of our action in cases of revocation of certificates of registration has been upon properly certified copies of court records.

In some instances the court has disclaimed its duty under the law to prosecute violators, seeking to throw it entirely upon the Pharmacy Commission, which has no jurisdiction as a court.

MANNER OF CONDUCTING EXAMINATIONS.

For a time after the organization of the Pharmacy Commission printed schedules were sent out to notaries public, to be answered under oath by applicants. In some instances this mode was unsatisfactory, and it has been entirely abandoned.

The examinations are now held at the residence of either Commissioner, on stated days, or before the full Board at such time and places as the Commission may appoint.

The Board also have an assistant Conductor of Examinations in writing, at Council Bluffs, Dubuque and Sioux City All examinations made by these assistants are submitted to each Commissioner for his approval or rejection. If not entirely satisfactory, the applicant is required to appear before either one of the Commissioners in

person, and verify his former examination by another or supplementary examination.

The question has been many times asked members of the Commission, "How much do you make out of the receipts for fees and dues?" sometimes inferring there is a bonanza in it. In answer, we invite a careful and critical examination of our subjoined report of receipts. and expenditures. Also to the following, which will give something of an idea of the labor required for each examination.

The party desiring registration usually writes some member of the Commission to that effect. In reply, the applicant is furnished a copy of the law, and a blank for formal application, which requires testimonials of sobriety and good moral character, the credence of which we investigate, if unknown, when the applicant presents himself for examination. The number of interrogatories usually propounded to each applicant at each examination is one hundred or more, to answer which about five hours is usually required. It requires about two hours for each Commissioner to make his estimate on an examination, after which the papers are forwarded to another Commissioner, and so on to the third. If the applicant is found to be sufficiently qualified, in the judgment of the majority of the Commissioners, the Secretary enters his name upon the register in form, and notifies the applicant. His certificate must then go the rounds for the signature of each Commissioner. If the applicant is unsuccessful in his first examination, he is also notified, and has the privilege to again present himself for re-examination within one year without a fee. The Secretary has also to visit the Secretary of State's office, and there make duplicate register. It is safe to state that each examination requires about ten hours' labor, and if the applicant is re-examined, about twenty hours.

Every few months new examination interrogatories must be prepared, which requires time, care and expense. Most all of our examinations are required in writing, as each examination must be approved by a majority of the Board; hence, an oral examination cannot be given except at least two Commissioners be present. In giving oral examinations more than one applicant cannot be examined at the same time; hence, but little can be accomplished in a day in this manner.

During the past two years a very small number of serious or fatal errors have been made in dispensing. Generally the younger class

of druggists of three and four years' experience have made rapid proficiency, which is indicated by the comparative superiority of their examinations over those of like experience three years ago. Quite a large number have aspired to enter the drug business, and have proven themselves incompetent; these have been prevented.

A large majority (more than nine-tenths) of the registered pharmacists endorse and uphold the law; in fact, the good results are abundant evidence of the necessity, efficacy and practicability in many respects.

Section 12, of chapter 75, wisely provides that "this act shall not apply to physicians putting up their own prescriptions," and no place is there any legal enactment defining who are and who are not physicians. Any one who puts up a shingle, styling himself a physician, regardless of professional ability, is, under the law, allowed the same rights as the most learned and proficient medical practitioner. The professions of the physician and the pharmacist are closely allied, in that the objects of both are adjuncts to health-the former being to diagnose diseases and prescribe; the latter to prepare and dispense the remedy. The legislative enactments of some sister States have cut off many self-styled medical practitioners, who have sought a field within our borders. The influx of these, together with those formerly among us, make a large number, many of whom have sought to enter the vocation of the pharmacist, thus placing us in a position to better observe the lack of professional ability, and indicates more forcibly to us than perhaps any others the necessity of judicious legal enactments regulating the practice of medicine, and to protect the commonwealth from the dangers of indiscriminate practice.

Referring to section 10, relating to itinerant vendors, we have to report that no money or license fee has been collected for the reason that section 12 contains an exemption clause that said act "shall not apply to the sale of proprietary medicines manufactured in the State and when same are sold and distributed by agents from an established place of business"; the words, "manufactured in the State," being deemed unconstitutional as in conflict with the Constitution of the United States on inter-State commerce, and based on a decision of the Iowa Supreme Court in a case from Marshalltown.

The expunging of the words, "manufactured in the State," would, in our opinion, cure the defect, and we believe the reduction of the

license fee to fifty dollars would yield a more certain revenue, as the incentive to evade the payment of the same would be correspondingly lessened.

Owing to the fact that we have been unable to impose the license on itinerants, their vocation has been greatly increased, people have been defrauded in the hope of receiving a balm for their ailments from these silver-tongued, irresponsible, oscillating vendors who palm off their worthless nostrums.

Many complaints have been made to us concerning these, and asking us to impose the license, but we are powerless.

SECTION SEVEN, RELATING TO ADULTERATIONS

and the responsibilities of registered pharmacists for the quality of all drugs, chemicals, and medicine sold or dispensed by them, we consider one of the best provisions of the law, and we are pleased to report that no instance of violation of this section has been reported to us during the past two years.

SECTIONS EIGHT AND NINE.

The liquor sections of the pharmacy law, owing to their close association with the irrepressible question of how to control the sale of liquors for legitimate purposes, has given us much trouble and arduous labor, especially so since the enactment of the following amendment to section 8 and the general liquor law, during the last three days of the Nineteenth General Assembly:

A Bill for an Act to amend section 8, chapter 75, of the laws of the Eighteenth General Assembly, and for an act to repeal section 1527, and to amend section 1529 and section 1537, of the Code of 1873, in relation to the sale of intoxicating liquors.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa:

SECTION 1. That section eight (8), chapter seventy-five (75), of the laws of the Eighteenth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, be and it is hereby, amended, by striking out all after the word "provided," in the fifth (5th) line of said section, and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "That all provisions of chapter six (6), title eleven (11), of the Code of 1873, and of any laws that may be hereafter made, amendatory or in addition thereto, regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors for mechanical, culinary, medicinal, or sacramental purposes, shall be applicable to persons selling liquor under this act, or the act to which this is amendatory; Provided further, that any registered pharmacist, who shall be convicted of any violation of said