A.P.C. POWDERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 10

A.P.C. POWDERS

ALARMING EVIDENCE “ARSENIC AND CYANIDE ” (From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, May 21 Mr Horace Finnemore, who is a reader in pharmacy at Sydney University, created a mild sensation in his evidence before the commission which is inquiring into the advisability or otherwise of chain stores in the pharmacy business, when he declared that A.P.C. powders sold in Sydney might consist of almost anything. . , „ . “I have heard it suggested, he added, “ that the initials A.P.C. stand for arsenic, phosphorus, and cvanide.” ~ Continuing, Mr Finnemore said that there was no standard laid down in New South Wales for A.P.C. powders. Certain powders had been analysed, and in one case a powder labelled A.P.C. had been found to contain acetanilide, which was poisonous. One powder from Victoria was labelled A.P.C. in large letters, but the letter “A” stood for amylum, or ordinary starch, and not for aspirin . , . Mr Finnemore added that it might be dangerous if the manufacture of the powders was not controlled. Moreover, control was necessary in order to preserve commercial honesty. Mr Justice Browne said that there seemed to be a grave need for standardisation. The case of the A.P.C. tablets showed that, and one had only to study the advertisements to realise that some manufacturers promised cures that could not possibly be fulfilled. v. At another stage of the inquiry Albert Edward Roper, pharmacist, said that a doctor had once written a prescription which, if mixed, would have blown up the dispensary. Some years ago a prescription had been brought to him which involved the mixing of permanganate of potash and glycerine. These, when combined, formed a powerful explosive. If they had been mixed by him. his dispensary would surely have been blown to pieces. Mr Justice Browne; What did you do? Witness: I telephoned the doctor and pointed out the consequences of dispensing the prescription. What did he say?—He abused me for worrying him. I should suppose you would have blown him up?—l asked him to come and mix the prescription himself. Witness added that the doctor was a man of about 50. with a worldwide experience. The inquiry is proceeding.