MEDICINE WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 193, 15 August 1911, Page 4

MEDICINE WANTED.

CHEMISTS SHUT AT NIGHT. Public attention in Christchurch is being directed to the difficulty which is o-fteu experienced in getting medicine from chemists at night-time for the treatment oi urgent cases. The "Press" quotes several instances in which doctors and others have tried six or seven chemists' shops before the desired article could be obtained. Generally the chemists did not live on the premises, and only in the small suburban shops could any answer be got when the bell was rung. '"The allegations are quite correct," sa.id a doctor who was seen by a "Press"' reporter on the subject. "With the exception of one, or possibly two places, there is no other chemists's shop you can rely upon. It is a very extraordinary state of aiTairs. Unless a chemist lives on the premises the proprietor is not allowed to keep anyone there after hours. At least. 1 understand this is a-ccording to the Shops and Offices Act. They are obliged tn shut up the shop. The occurrence complained of is a very common thing, nnd frequently my patients have to wait UTitil the next morning before they can obtain medicine. Up till two years a»jo one eould easily get medicine at any hour of the night, but the Shops and Oftrees Act hns stopped that, and unless i man lives on the premises one cannot jet the medicine."

A leading Auckland chemist, seen by a "Star" reporter this morn.;n<r. did not consider the position at all a stious one. There were at least two all-nisrht pharmacies in the citv, one in Tapper Symondss'reet and one rn the Great North-road. Besides these, a large number of subur ban chemists lived not far from their shops, and most had their houses on the fcl"phone. Any of theme be perfectly ready to 20 down to their shop and make up medicine .in case of emer eenoy. He fotmd, too. that the doctors as a rule kept pretty extensive stock--of medicine, and it wa.s very seldom that thev required anything «t nisrht. In such eases, their professional brethren ■would always be ready to help them out if the chemists >conld not he reached.