174 Miscellanies. 
either Philadelphia or New York, must produce a favorable effect 
throughout the country. There is perhaps no profession more liable 
to abuse than that of the Pharmaceutist;—none in which the 
deceptions that may be, and that have been practiced, are more 
gross and deleterious,—none in which ignorance and negligence have 
produced, and are producing more fatal agencies. ‘The compounds 
of pharmacy are held together by chemical affinities which, in nv- 
merous instances are so easily subverted ;—the value, the absolute 
qualities of these compounds depends so entirely upon the accurate 
predominance of these atomic affinities ;—and the inertness or the 
activity of medicine is consequently so dependent on the skill and 
honesty of the manufacturer and compounder, there is surely no 
earthly reason why the members of this profession ought not to enjoy 
all the advantages, and be subject to all the restrictions, which can 
and do arise from incorporated associations. It is unnecessary for 
us here to define the nature, or urge the importance of these adval- 
tages. They are so well set forth in an address delivered before the 
Philadelphia college, by its president, Daniel B. Smith, published 
the first volume of the Journal of Pharmacy ; that we cannot do better 
than to recommend to every one who is interested in the quality of 
the medicine, which is administered to himself, or his family, (and 
what rational being in the country is not so interested,) to peruse 
this valuable discourse. 
In the commencement of its Journal of Pharmacy, it was the in 
tention of the Philadelphia college to rely chiefly on original contr 
butions, and to publish their numbers. only as ‘often as their materials 
would warrant. Upon this scheme they issued four numbers 
first in December 1825, and the last in 1827. From this time there 
was a suspension until April 1829, when the publication was resuin 
under a resolution to continue the journal as a quarterly periodical; 
and to supply any deficiencies of original matter by selections, adapted 
to the sciences, which it is the main object of the members of 4 
college to promote, by their associated efforts. ‘These sciences ae 
stated to be those strictly connected with pharmacy, viz. chemists 
(general and pharmaceutic) materia medica, zoology, botany - 
mineralogy. ‘Thus renovated, and placed under the able direction ° 
the gentlemen, whose names appear in the title, the Journal of Phat 
macy has, regularly fulfilled the conditions of its prospectus; and has 
within the two or three years of its existence, presented, to the men 
bers of this important and responsible profession, a body of memoll 
