C. U. C. p. cXlumni Journal 



Published monthly by 

 The Alumni Association of the New York College of Phaemact, Columbia University 



JEANNOT HOSTMANN, Editor 



Contributing Editors: H. H. RUSBY, — G. C. DIEKMAN, — H. V. ARNY 



Address all communications to the C. U. C. P. Alumni Journal, 115-119 West 68th St., New York 



Subscription Rates, $1.00 per Year. Single Copy, 20 cents 



Vol. XXV. AUGUST, 1918 Number b 



H. R. 5531 



"To the Congress of the United States: 



"One of the most important duties of the Government is to provide to the 

 utmost for the conservation of the health ^nd lives of our gallant boys who are 

 sacrificing comforts and jeopardizing their all in the cause of human liberty. They 

 are certainly entitled to the very best medical and surgical skill and the most ex- 

 pert pharmaceutical service for the preparation of such medicines as may be 

 needed by the sick or wounded. 



"The various States have protected their citizens from incompetence in the 

 compounding of medicines by licensing only qualified, trained pharmacists as dis- 

 pensers of medicine. In our Army service no such provision for pharmaceutical 

 supervision over the quality of drugs and the dispensing of medicines has yet been 

 established. The dispensing of even the most poisonous drugs, is frequently en- 

 trusted to men who have had no education in pharmacy. Surely our soldiers are 

 entitled to the same protection that in civil life was assuured by their respective 

 States. 



"While in the armies of France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Belgium, 

 Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and in the Colonial Armies of Australia 

 and Canada there are organized pharmaceutical corps, with recognized commis- 

 sions and responsibilities, ably aiding the other medical officers in safeguarding 

 the troops in these armies, the United States has not yet established a Pharma- 

 ceutical Corps in the Army. 



"Therefore, the undersigned citizens and relatives of the men in the military 

 service of the Nation, urge upon Congress the necessity for this additional safe- 

 guard to our soldiers and petition that the Edmonds' Bill (H. R. 5531) 'To in- 

 crease the efficiency of the Medical Department of the United States Army, to 

 provide a Pharmaceutical Corps in that department and to improve the status 

 and efficiency of the pharmacists in the Army,' be speedily enacted." 



The above petition is being sent out by the N. P. S. A. with the request that 

 every pharmacist obtain as many signatures thereto as possible before mailing the 

 former to Chairman Dent of the House Committee on Military Affairs. At the 

 same time each and every pharmacist is urged to write to his Congressman re- 

 questing him to support the Edmonds Bill. Have you written? If not, do so at 

 once, using some of the facts stated inthe petition in your letter. 



