July, 1918 C. U. C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL 109 



causes which are responsible for this situation or condition, as that is not the 

 purpose of this paper. It is apparent however that the caiises are many and 

 vijried, and that they are not the same in all localities, though they tend to produce 

 the same result, namely shortage of help. It is of coarse understood and agreed 

 that the needs of' our Government, in these troublesome times,' has aggravated the 

 situation very materially. 1 he situation was far from comfortable however, even 

 yrior to the time that this additional drain upon the man power of our Country 

 became a necessity. I am also convinced that the progress which has been made 

 in uplifting the practice of pharmacy during the last decade, a progress greater 

 in some spots than in others, but progress everywhere nevertheless, js at least in a 

 measure responsible for the situation which now confronts pharmacists. Two 

 other factors responsible for this shortage of help, or which at least contribute 

 largely to make it a reality, are the matter of hours of employment and the matter 

 of remuneration. 



Other avenues, many of them more attractive, nearly all of them at least as 

 attractive as is the field of Pharmacy, are open at this time, to both young men 

 and women seeking employment. Special inducements are being made to h^gh 

 school students of both sexes, in many parts of the country, by a number of com- 

 m.ercial activities, among them some of the largest and most influential in our busi- 

 ness world, to leave their studies and to embark in commercial enterprises, and I 

 am creditably informed that many of those approached are leaving the class room 

 for service in the business world. 



The members of our State Board of Pharmacy, individually and collectively, 

 have, for some time, given this matter much thought and attention, and have 

 sought to suggest or devise ways and means whereby, even if ever so little, tlie 

 situation might be ameliorated. Two ways presented themselves by means of 

 either of which, or by means of both of which it was felt the situation might be 

 bettered. The first of these deals with the proposition of increasing the number 

 of those attending our schools of pharmacy, and of those who seek employment in 

 a pharmacy or drug store for the purpose of work and study, and who in due 

 time, after having gained the necessary experience, and the necessary knowledge, 

 will take part in the licensing examination of some State Board of Pharmacy. 

 It is obvious that both of these propositions can better be taken care of by the 

 colleges and the pharmacists themselves. 



The second way deals with the matter of adopting measures for a more thor- 

 ough and proper utilization of the means and materials already at hand, more es- 

 pecially so, as far as the gradutes of schools of pharmacy, who have not completed 

 fully their term of practical experience, or who cannot yet meet the age require- 

 ment, are concerned. This aspect of the situation I will take the opportunity to 

 further discuss. 



As you all know, students are admitted to most schools of pharmacy, without 

 necessarily having had any practical experience in a pharmacy or drug store. 

 Whether this in principle is right or wrong, is not the question under discussion 

 at this time. The fact remains that students are so admitted to the courses given, 

 c-t most of our pharmacy schools. After they have, at the end of a two year 



