To the Editor.— I write to remark on your COMMENTARY (232:1225, 1975) from the standpoint of the pharmacist who can unknowingly nullify the desired placebo effect. A significant number of prescriptions are now paid for by third-party carriers (welfare departments and company insurance plans). These carriers will not pay for inert placebos; therefore, the pharmacist must charge the patient for these prescriptions. Patients made aware of the fact that a non-legend drug has been prescribed usually consider themselves "duped" by their physicians and refuse the prescription (and usually seek another physician). If the physician has determined that the patient is one of those fastdisappearing individuals, the cash customer, it would prevent problems if the doctor would telephone the prescription to the pharmacist and explain the circumstances so that the pharmacist can support the claims of the physician. Even if the patient does not pay for his own prescriptions, there is