210 C. U. C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL 



CLINICAL EXAMINATIONS BY PHARMACISTS 

 WIDENING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICAL PHARMACY 



By Joseph VVeinstkin, N. Y. C. P. '06. 



The paper here printed was read at the Atlantic City Convention of the 

 Ajncrican Pharmaceutical Association by Doctor Weinstein as Chairman of 

 the Section on Practical Pharmacy and Dispensing. We feel that many a 

 ''doubter" as to the professional future of pharmacy will, after carefully 

 reading the article, become convinced that there is something better in store for 

 the pharmacist of the future than the selling of sandwiches and alarm-clocks. 



Within the last decade great changes of identification is now discarded by the 



have taken place in medicine and phar- chain stores. 



macy. You all know the tremendous I will not question the propriety of 

 progress made in the field of medicine, handling side lines of general merchan- 

 Has pharmacy kept pace with the ad- dise from the point of view of the pro- 

 vances made by its sister profession? fessional pharmacist. In my opinion it 

 When I speak of pharmacy I have in is perfectly legitimate to sell in a drug 

 mind not theoretical pharmacy, not the store everything the public calls for, 

 science of pharmacy proper, which, as provided the business is conducted in a 

 we all know, is making great steps for- dignified manner and not to the exclu- 

 ward, but the practice of pharmacy, its sion of real pharmacy. Especially is it 

 functions and its use by the pharmacist true of the useful lines of goods that 

 as a profession and as a means of earn- have proven well their compatibility with 

 ing a livelihood. With the ever increas- the stock of the pharmacist of the past 

 ing competition and in the face of the as well as with that of his present day 

 difficulties to make his pharmacy pay, the successor, such as perfumes, soaps, toilet 

 practical pharmacist, in attempting to waters, rubber goods, sponges, brushes 

 imitate business methods of other mer- and the like. But, are all side lines a 

 chants, oftentimes brings pharmacy down profitable business venture? After a 

 to a condition of ''practically no phar- careful study of the question we will 

 macy." He branches out into side lines find that while side lines were profitable 

 that distract his attention from pharmacy sellers in former years, the number of 

 proper. When we glance at the show articles that are selling now with reason- 

 windows of the modern drug store and able returns is rapidly decreasing. The 

 look at the display of alarm clocks, ko- financial condition of the average phar- 

 daks, cigars, candies, stationery, school macist is such as not to permit him to 

 supplies, souvenirs, hardware and even carry a large stock of the daily increasing 

 fruits, we are scarcely aw^are that we are variety of goods, hence he can make no 

 passing a drug store, if it were not for attractive displays, can ofiFer no assort- 

 the colored globes, and even that mark ment of goods to choose from and has 



