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Currency sent by ordinary mail usually reaches its destina- tion safely, but money so sent must be at the risk of the We cannot always supply back numbers. Should a num- ber fail to reach a subscriber, we will supply another, if notified before the end of the month. Notify us promptly of any change of address, mentioning If you want your subscription stopped at expiration of the time paid for, kindly notify us, as in the absence of such notice we will understand that it is the subscriber's pleasure that the subscription be continued and we will act accord- Essentials of a State Narcotic Law. in forty-one states (see list and dates in November WORLD, page 405). In all these the subject of narcotic legislation should be prominently and earnestly considered. See summaries of existing narcotic laws in the editorial department of November WORLD, then consider the following essentials. This material should be placed in the hands of every doctor in every legislature, and of members of committees which will consider and report bills on this subject. Our object is to promote the right kind of legislation of the Harrison law has been declared uncon- One of the first things to consider is to have the state law conform closely in style and matter to the federal law. It should specify the method of sales at retail, restricting them to written prescriptions by legally qualified physicians, and only for patients being attended by the doctor writing the prescrip- It should specify the method of making sales at wholesale, upon official order forms. A record of receipts should be required of all persons, wholesalers and retailers, which should be the duplicate of the internal revenue Inspection of records should be provided for. Record of treatment of habitual users should be required. Commitment of habitual users who will not consent to be properly treated should be provided, and commitment should be made by a court or a committee of physicians, and the commitment should be binding until the physicians treating the addict are satisfied that he may safely be released. A proper sanatorium should be provided by the county or state for the treat- Revocation of the license of a habitual user should be provided for. Exemptions of some narcotic preparations immediately, these exemptions will be eliminated. Dispensing by physicians, dentists and veterinarians must be provided for. . Here is where the medical profession must be careful, since the druggists aim to prevent physicians from dispensing. nothing and let the hospital get the pay. We know of no hospital superintendent or office assistant working for the hospital without pay. Yet these hospital superintendents want the physicians to work for nothing. A necessary amendment will be one that will order that the doctor who treats the Unlawful delivery and unlawful possession patient shall be paid for the service, and no should be carefully defined. Rules; enforcement, appropriation therefor; definition of "person," penalty, repeal, date of effect are also to be included in the bill. We published the text of a model bill of this nature in February, 1915, WORLD, pages 42 to 45 and reprinted the "unlawful possession" clause in October, 1916, page 362. We have a few copies of this in pamphlet form which we will send without charge upon request. Make yourself familiar with this bill and see that your legislature passes a similar one. Amendments Needed to Workmen's Compensation Act. The workmen's compensation law in Pennsylvania will probably be amended at the coming session of the legislature which meets January 2. Concerted effort will be made to have some necessary changes made, based upon the results of the operation of the law during the past twelve months. One of the great defects in the law is the short length of time during which a physician and attendance are to be furnished to the injured person. The present law requires that such service be rendered for a period of not over two weeks. This time is entirely inadequate for a great many cases. The remuneration provided by law is inadequate for the purpose, since the amount is for medical and surgical care, drugs, bandages, nursing, hospital charges, etc. Too often the hospital gets the money and the physician gets nothing. The Pennsylvania State Medical Society is going to ask that the bill be amended to extend the above-mentioned time from 14 days to 30 days and that the maximum amount allowed for medical and surgical care shall be increased from $75 to $200. This would be a great improvement. The position of the hospitals in the treatment of those cases is a cause of considerable dispute. In a great many cases the hospital gets all the money and the physician gets nothing for his services, and yet the hospital authorities feel no compunctions and think the physicians should treat pay cases for other person or institution shall intervene and receive all the money; and that no assignment of this right will be allowed, which will prevent hospitals from compelling their dispensary attendants to assign their right to the hospital. The Pennsylvania Medical Society will also ask that the definition of "major operation" as made by the Compensation Board (see December WORLD, page 446, first column, 3d, 4th and 5th paragraphs) be incorporated as an amendment. While the present law provides that the employer shall furnish medical and surgical care for a certain period of time and sets a limit to the amount of money to be paid for it, it becomes a matter of doubt as to how a physician shall get the money, after doing the work required of him. Under present conditions the doctor must have a contract with the insurance company or employer in order to feel certain of being paid. He may not be paid even then. Yet without such a contract he would be less likely to be paid. It is advisable for all physicians to get a direct order for treatment for each case treated. The law should be amended so that the physician who treats the injured employe shall be paid for the treatment. There is no provision in the Compensation Law that provides for the payment of the physician. The law only states in this respect that the employer shall furnish medicines and physician to a certain limit, but it does not provide for the payment of the physician. The physician may or may not be paid for his services. I know a number of physicians who have had to threaten to sue in order to be paid for services rendered injured employes. The bill should specifically provide that the physician who does the work shall be paid for it. No other person nor any institution should intervene or intercept the money. In any case where a physician is not engaged by a firm to treat an injured employe, provision should be made for the physician to be paid by the firm and charged to the employe. The insurance companies are in it for all |