Reppert v. Utterback

217 N.W. 545, 206 Iowa 314
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedJanuary 10, 1928
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 217 N.W. 545 (Reppert v. Utterback) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reppert v. Utterback, 217 N.W. 545, 206 Iowa 314 (iowa 1928).

Opinions

De Graff, J.

The petitioners, Reppert and Veateh, are registered pharmacists, who, at the time in question and for many years prior thereto, were respectively engaged in the retail drug business in the city of Des Moines. Each of the petitioners was under an injunctional decree of the district court of Iowa in and for Polk County, restraining and enjoining him from keeping for sale, selling, or otherwise trafficking in intoxicating liquors in violation of law.

On or about January 4, 1926, proceedings in contempt were commenced against each of the petitioners in said court, and, in response to a citation, trial was had. The court made a finding of facts and conclusions of law adjudging the petitioners to be in contempt, and imposed a.penalty therefor. It is to review this order and judgment that a writ of cértiorari was issued by a justice of this court. The separate actions by the petitioners are consolidated, for the purpose of review, as the same legal propositions are involved in each proceeding.

There is but one question presented for determination. Are the petitioners herein guilty of contempt because, as registered pharmacists, they used government alcohol in their business as pharmacists, without first procuring a state manufacturer’s permit ? The practice of pharmacy in each state is regulated in the manner defined by the state legislature thereof, under the power commonly called the police power of the state, and is exercised *316 and defended on the ground of public welfare. The word “pharmacist” in modern legal nomenclature includes apothecary and druggist, and is all-inclusive. Bouvier’s Law Dictionary (Baldwin’s Century Ed.) 75.

A registered pharmacist is one who has qualified by training, education, and experience, and is so certified. His license, issued by the state board of pharmacy, recites that:

“He is a competent pharmacist fully qualified to conduct the business of compounding or dispensing’ drugs, medicines, ot chemicals for medicinal use or to compound’physicians’ prescriptions, ’ ’ etc.

At the outset we ask, What powers and authority are prescribed by statute and conferred upon a registered pharmacist? With this matter defined, we then ask, What did the petitioners, as registered pharmacists, do, upon which a contempt could be predicated, with resulting penalty?

It may first be observed that the instant petitioners were not engaged in the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the fact that neither petitioner had a permit, as a registered pharmacist, to keep and sell intoxicating liquors, under Title VI, Chapter 100, Code of 1924, is wholly immaterial to any issue involved. The trial court expressly found that there was no evidence of an illegal sale of intoxicating liquor, as such, by either petitioner. The evidence is just as conclusive that neither petitioner was in possession of alcohol with the intent to sell contrary to law, or that any mixture was made or compounded by them containing alcohol that could be used ás a beverage.

Each of the petitioners did have a permit from the United States internal revenue department, issued under the National Prohibition Act and regulations thereunder. Each petitioner was authorized under this permit, subject to the limitations of state law, to use alcohol for non-beverage purposes: (1) In the making or compounding of preparations unfit for beverage purposes recognized and defined in the United States Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary; (2) in selling quantities not exceeding one pint to a person not holding permit to purchase, when medicated according to formulary set forth in Federal regulations; and (3) in compounding medicinal preparations on physicians’ prescriptions, or otherwise medicated according to the standards set forth under Federal regulations.

*317 What are the provisions of our state law relative to the matter in issue 1 The Pharmacy Act of this state reads:

“For the purpose of this title the following classes of persons shall be deemed to be engaged in the practice of pharmacy: 1. Persons who engage in the business of selling, or offering or exposing for sale, drugs and medicines at retail. 2. Persons who compound or dispense drugs and medicines or fill the prescriptions of licensed physicians and surgeons, dentists, or veterinarians.” Section 2578, Code of 1924.

It is quite apparent, therefore, that, under both the Federal and the state law, the right of a pharmacist to use alcohol is recognized in the conduct of his business in compounding drugs and medicines and the ‘filling of prescriptions of licensed physicians, surgeons, dentists, or veterinarians.

It is a matter of common knowledge that alcohol is required by a druggist as a solvent, preservative, or antiseptic, and the legislature recognized the fact that drugs and medicine require alcohol for purposes defined by medical and pharmaceutical authorities; so that the petitioners were clearly within the legitimate sphere of action as pharmacists in the use of alcohol in filling prescriptions and in compounding drugs and medicines.

We need not stop here. The statute (Pharmacy Act) offers further definitions. Section 2580, Code of 1924 reads:

“For the purposes of this chapter: 1. ‘Drugs and medicines’ shall include all substances and preparations for internal or external use recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary, and any substance or mixture of substances intended to be used for the cure, mitigation, or prevention of disease of either man or animals.”

The statute defines the term “United States Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary.” Section 3029 (7), Code of 1924.

We turn to the “Pharmacopoeia of the United States” (Official Edition, Tenth Decennial'Revision, 1926), known as Exhibit 6 in this case, and we find that alcohol is an essential ingredient in the majority of substances or mixtures of substances intended to be used “for the cure, mitigation, or prevention of disease of either man or animals.” To illustrate *318 with some of the substances, mixtures, or tinctures compounded by the petitioners:

“Spirit of camphor contains not less than 9.5 gm. and not more than 10.5 gm. of camphor in each 100 cc. Camphor 100 'gm. alcohol, a sufficient quantity, to make 1000 cc. Dissolve the camphor in about 800 cc. of alcohol and add enough alcohol to make the product measure 1000 cc.” Page 351.,
Again — “Liniment of soft soap * * * —tincture of green soap. Soft soap 650 gm., oil of lavender 20 cc., alcohol, a sufficient quantity, to make 1000 cc.” Page 205.

We will not incumber this opinion further by a recital of the substances compounded by the petitioners, as shown by the record, which substances or mixtures had alcoholic content, but recognized by the United States Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary, such as spirit of ether compound (Hoffman’s Anodyne), compound spirit of myrcia (bay rum), tincture of aconite, elixir aromatic, etc. The United States Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary are regarded by statute as the standard authority and official guide to a pharmacist in the compounding of drugs, medicines, and medicated preparations.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

North Carolina Board of Pharmacy v. Lane
102 S.E.2d 832 (Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1958)
State v. Wertheimer Bag Co.
43 So. 2d 824 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1949)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
217 N.W. 545, 206 Iowa 314, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reppert-v-utterback-iowa-1928.