EDITORIAL.PHARMACEUTICALCONVENTION.The apothecaries of the United States are in an anomalous and exceptional position. Exercising functions which concern the life and health of those who require their services, the public expects them to possess the experience, the varied requirement, the high moral qualities which the proper exercise of their profession demands; yet this same public, itself incapable of discriminating between knowledge and ignorance, furnishes them no aid in the pursuits of their studies, and yields them no protection against quackery and imposture. Everything is left to the spirit of trade, and to the laws of supply and demand. The advances that have been made in pharmacy have come from within itself, unaided by any assistance from the state governments, and looked upon often with coldness or distrust by the public. In this way, in some of the large cities, with the influence of the sister profession of medicine, something has been done; but, even there, how much remains to be accomplished before pharmacy can assume the rank it holds in France and Germany!As heretofore, so now, the best and the only prospect of progress in the profession lies in itself. It best knows its necessities and requirments, and it can best devise the remedies that will meet them. It is in the union of its members, in mutual association and intercourse, in the formation of a public opinion of its own, which,{160}operating first upon the members of the profession, will necessarily have its weight upon the public opinion of the community, that lie our best hopes. Pharmacy is at once a liberal art, and a trade. In individuals, particularly in a community like ours, the spirit of trade is apt to be in the ascendant. Science is estimated at its money value, for what it brings in, rather than for what it is. But when the best men of a profession meet together, science resumes its proper position; they are encouraged in their noblest aims, and that encouragement is spread widely among their fellows. Individuals struggling, isolated throughout the country, feel that there is a tribunal to which they can appeal, and by which they will be judged, and its influence will be felt too by another class, as a restraint, if not an encouragement. Success, obtained by worthy means, loses much of its value, when it costs the esteem of those with whom we are most intimately connected.It is from such considerations that we look upon the approaching convention at Philadelphia, as a step in a very important movement. A great deal depends upon its success, and every one who has the interest of pharmaceutical science at heart, should do all he can to promote it.To prove all that is hoped for by its friends, the convention should be a national one, not only in name, but in reality. Every institution and society entitled under the requisitions of the call, should appoint delegates, and above all, they should appoint delegates who will attend. But there are many apothecaries scattered through the country, in places not entitled to appoint delegates, who may be enabled to be present at the meeting of the convention, and we are glad to see that our Philadelphia brethren are prepared to welcome them in a liberal and cordial spirit. They will both receive and communicate benefit. Their presence will add weight and authority to the convention; while, independent of its official proceedings, they cannot but derive advantages from acquaintance and intercourse with the numerous able members of the profession who will, as delegates, attend the meeting.Great care should be exercised in the selection of delegates; they should not only, above all, be men who will attend, but men who have at heart the position and advancement of pharmaceutists.We hope that their election will take place as early as possible, that they may have time fully to consider the objects of the convention, and the wants and wishes of the institutions they represent. It would be well, too, if early notice of their election should be communicated to Mr. Proctor, or some other of the members residing at Philadelphia, and their names should be published. The convention will have much to discuss and determine upon, while its duration will necessarily be limited. Were the names of its members early announced, an interchange of opinion might take place between, not to forstall the active of the convention, but to promote and expedite it. For this purpose, if deemed desirable our own columns are freely tendered.
PHARMACEUTICALCONVENTION.The apothecaries of the United States are in an anomalous and exceptional position. Exercising functions which concern the life and health of those who require their services, the public expects them to possess the experience, the varied requirement, the high moral qualities which the proper exercise of their profession demands; yet this same public, itself incapable of discriminating between knowledge and ignorance, furnishes them no aid in the pursuits of their studies, and yields them no protection against quackery and imposture. Everything is left to the spirit of trade, and to the laws of supply and demand. The advances that have been made in pharmacy have come from within itself, unaided by any assistance from the state governments, and looked upon often with coldness or distrust by the public. In this way, in some of the large cities, with the influence of the sister profession of medicine, something has been done; but, even there, how much remains to be accomplished before pharmacy can assume the rank it holds in France and Germany!
As heretofore, so now, the best and the only prospect of progress in the profession lies in itself. It best knows its necessities and requirments, and it can best devise the remedies that will meet them. It is in the union of its members, in mutual association and intercourse, in the formation of a public opinion of its own, which,{160}operating first upon the members of the profession, will necessarily have its weight upon the public opinion of the community, that lie our best hopes. Pharmacy is at once a liberal art, and a trade. In individuals, particularly in a community like ours, the spirit of trade is apt to be in the ascendant. Science is estimated at its money value, for what it brings in, rather than for what it is. But when the best men of a profession meet together, science resumes its proper position; they are encouraged in their noblest aims, and that encouragement is spread widely among their fellows. Individuals struggling, isolated throughout the country, feel that there is a tribunal to which they can appeal, and by which they will be judged, and its influence will be felt too by another class, as a restraint, if not an encouragement. Success, obtained by worthy means, loses much of its value, when it costs the esteem of those with whom we are most intimately connected.
It is from such considerations that we look upon the approaching convention at Philadelphia, as a step in a very important movement. A great deal depends upon its success, and every one who has the interest of pharmaceutical science at heart, should do all he can to promote it.
To prove all that is hoped for by its friends, the convention should be a national one, not only in name, but in reality. Every institution and society entitled under the requisitions of the call, should appoint delegates, and above all, they should appoint delegates who will attend. But there are many apothecaries scattered through the country, in places not entitled to appoint delegates, who may be enabled to be present at the meeting of the convention, and we are glad to see that our Philadelphia brethren are prepared to welcome them in a liberal and cordial spirit. They will both receive and communicate benefit. Their presence will add weight and authority to the convention; while, independent of its official proceedings, they cannot but derive advantages from acquaintance and intercourse with the numerous able members of the profession who will, as delegates, attend the meeting.
Great care should be exercised in the selection of delegates; they should not only, above all, be men who will attend, but men who have at heart the position and advancement of pharmaceutists.
We hope that their election will take place as early as possible, that they may have time fully to consider the objects of the convention, and the wants and wishes of the institutions they represent. It would be well, too, if early notice of their election should be communicated to Mr. Proctor, or some other of the members residing at Philadelphia, and their names should be published. The convention will have much to discuss and determine upon, while its duration will necessarily be limited. Were the names of its members early announced, an interchange of opinion might take place between, not to forstall the active of the convention, but to promote and expedite it. For this purpose, if deemed desirable our own columns are freely tendered.