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THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



intelligently and carefully by the phar- 

 macists themselves and the representa- 

 tives who speak for them. In the first 

 place, in the city of New York we have 

 a great many dry goods houses and 

 "cutting establishments" that sell the 

 common essences and tinctures at ex- 

 ceedingly reduced rates. With " tax- 

 free alcohol" can we expect other than 

 that the price of spirits of camphor and 

 essences of peppermint and ginger will 

 be at 25 cents per pint or less ? It is 

 certain that they will be sold at the low- 

 est margin of profit. Not considering 

 the baneful effect of the use of such 

 medicaments in large quantities that 

 will follow, we fear that the results 

 upon the position of the pharmacist will 

 be much like "free trade without any 

 tariff^" in the United States at the pres- 

 ent time. It would lower and not elevate; 

 it would impoverish and not enrich the 

 pharmacist. 



A difficulty is set forth in this circular, 

 "The difficulty of framing regulations 

 that would permit those entitled to re- 

 ceive the rebate provided by the act and 

 at the same time amply protect the gov- 

 ernment from imposition and fraud. 

 This has been magnified into an insu- 

 perable mountain." The task is not in- 

 surmountable. Luther, on his way to 

 Worms, had a far greater task. Noth- 

 ing is insurmountable to the man of 

 energy and purpose, and who can gather 

 together those who shall be ' ' the old 

 guard" to the end. We look for the 

 Sheridan to come up and inspire this 

 disjointed, distracted and weak body of 

 men — the pharmacists — to concerted 

 action for the saving of the honor of the 

 profession. The pharmacists to-day are 

 the slaves of the men of personal ambition 

 in one way or another. They are not 

 freemen, and if you are satisfied that 

 laws can be enforced to prevent the illicit 

 use of this "free-tax alcohol," and that 



the offenders will not grow rich while 

 paying the fines, and even serving im- . 

 prisonment — and that the condition of 

 American pharmacy will be improved — if 

 you see j^our way clear thus far-go ahead. 

 The work of the department of the Board 

 of Health of New York, when Prof. 

 Chandler was at its head, is worthy of 

 some very careful reading just now in 

 this connection. 



Another reason is given that the phar- 

 macist, with the " tax free alcohol," will 

 prepare his own medicaments, and be 

 responsible for their purity. The same 

 comparative conditions at the most will 

 prevail then as now. Indolence is not 

 met in a man by opportunity. The 

 lazy pharmacist will be just as idle 

 then as now, or may be engaged "in 

 sending up perfumed air currents in 

 front of his shop window as a means 

 of attracting the crowd." The more 

 conscientious pharmacist may not care 

 to be responsible for the purity and 

 strength ot his preparations. He would 

 rather fall back upon the reputation of 

 the manufacturers whenever there is any 

 claim as to strength. {See Ebert, Am. 

 Pharm. Assoc. Proc., 18 qj, p. p/). 



These are serious matters for the con- 

 sideration of the pharmacist. This 

 matter of "tax-free alcohol" ought to be 

 considered by every pharmacist. It 

 cannot be said to be a matter of opinion 

 to those who are actively engaged in the 

 business of pharmacy. There are very 

 important reasons why it has been given 

 into the hands of a committee in Phila- 

 delphia. It is a problem that must be 

 considered on the broadest basis of 

 the ultimate position of the pharmacist as 

 well as present gain. That the phar- 

 macist is destined like the American 

 Indian and buffalo to be regarded only 

 as curiosities in time to come, we do not 

 believe. It is possible that his future 

 may be largely decided by the decision 



