§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, If the Govern- 1189 ment are aware that numbers of chemists in London prescribe medicinally for all sorts of diseases; if it is legal for chemists who have no medical or surgical degree to prescribe and make up medicines, in many of which poisonous drugs are used; and, if the Government will take steps to put an end to this practice, now that proper medical advice can be obtained for small fees?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)The Government have no special information upon the subject referred to in the first part of the Question, though it is very probable that chemists are in the habit of prescribing medicinally to persons coming to their shops. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, by which it is made unlawful for persons since 1868, unless registered under that Act, to retail, dispense, or compound the poisons referred to in the Schedule of that Act and in subsequent Resolutions of the Pharmaceutical Society approved by the Privy Council. I have only to add that the Government have under consideration the question of further regulating the sale of poisons.