218 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [July 



])ossil)le for every druggist to deterniuie wliether or not 

 he is dispensing; unadulterated remedies. To detect 

 adulterations sliould be regarded as a pa't of his duty. 



The plea has been advanced that only a few can become 

 sufficiently expert to do such work and that most men 

 lack the required time. Now no advanced treatise upon 

 pharmacognosy is necessary for the i)rosecutiou of this 

 study. A pharmacist of average ability can in a com- 

 paratively short time become sufficiently familiar with 

 vegetable histology and microscopical methods to do 

 such work thoroughly. The one who advances such a 

 plea as lack of time and of op])ortunity has surely no 

 moral right to dispense medicines. 



The more expert work must be left to investigators of 

 high scientific training, and to those who possess the 

 most desirable apparatus. But what is required for the 

 work here proposed is only ordinary intelligence and 

 average training, combiiied with ap[)lication and a desire 

 to be a credit to the profession. After a few months of 

 self instruction, aided by the necessary ap[)aratus and a 

 reliable guide to vegetable histology and micro-chemistry 

 any one can acquire a fair degree of proficiency. 



The following suggestions as to equi})ment, methods 

 and re-agents are es{)ecially intendtMl for the benefit of 

 those pliaiinacists wlio know practically nothing about 

 micro-i)harmacoguosy. 



Keep constantly in mind not to purchase a single piece 

 of apparatus until it is tictually needed. Only such appa- 

 latus and accessories as are re(piirfd liy the ln^ginner in 

 the study of {)owdered drugs, will be recommended 

 herein. In getting an instrument the novice had l)est 

 take the advice of some impartial and experienced micros- 

 copist. 



In this counlry, the Baus(di & Jjomb Optical Co., of 

 Rochester, N. \'., and Zentmeyer, of Pliiladeljihia, Pa., 

 are the leading nin ii iifacturers of njicroscopes and micro- 



