The custom among druggists is to refill, when requested, any prescription that does not specify to the contrary or to give a copy to be filled elsewhere. So general is this custom that it is demanded by the patient as a matter of right. An exception to the rule, of course, is in the case of those prescriptions that call for drugs that the laws of the Federal Government or of the particular State allow to be dispensed only once on a prescription, unless a written order to refill is given by the prescriber. Even when the law does not cover the point some few pharmacists will not refill a prescription calling for a habit-forming drug. Some prescribers write on prescriptions that they do not particularly want refilled, Not to be refilled or Non. rep. (see page 347). Others have this printed on all their blanks and only erase it when they think it will be necessary to have that particular prescription refilled. This latter custom is not recommended for reasons later explained.

Aside from other considerations the custom of refilling and giving copies is manifestly unjust to the physician, as he does not usually sell the patient a formula for present and future use for himself and friends. He is paid for his effort to correct a particular condition then existing, and his prescription is an order to the druggist to deliver a drug or drugs in a certain amount for that object. To refer to a previous illustration, the druggist has no more right to execute that order again than would the merchant to deliver a second pair of shoes on the order for one.

The custom is frequently even more unjust to the patient, as what would cure at one time might really do damage to the same patient or another at some other time, though the condition might seem to be the same. An active purge for an abdominal pain due to constipation may give relief, but if taken when the pain is due to appendicitis it might produce unfortunate results. The illustration is used by another author of a lady who suffered from headache due to syphilis. Without being informed of the condition she was relieved by pills of yellow mercurous iodide. She later told her physician that she was so much pleased with the remedy that she had given copies of the prescription to all of her friends who suffered with headache.

It sometimes happens that for sentimental or other reasons a patient will wish to retain a particular prescription, as when consulting some eminent physician. The custom is for the patient to so state when giving the prescription to the druggist, who then fills the original and puts his name and his particular number and date on it, and sometimes the price charged in plain figures, or in a cipher code understood by most druggists. He makes a copy for himself, which he numbers, dates, and files as he would an original.

The custom of refilling and giving copies is too well established for the pharmacist to fail to comply with it, and the only remedy is for the prescriber to specify against it and try to educate the public to the many disadvantages. It is a matter, however, that requires concerted action, and for one doctor, particularly if he is not well established, to try to stem the tide of. custom and popular demand might prove decidedly unfortunate.