436 
Ruschenberger,] J [Feb, 15, 
of a formula. Hach committee held weekly sessions of about 
two hours, and, on an average, required two years to complete 
its work. All the institutions which participate in the prep- 
aration of a revised edition of the Pharmacoposia, give it like 
attention, so that it is not easy to conjecture the aggregate of 
labor bestowed upon it. So much care merely signifies that, 
in the estimation of the profession, accuracy in all the details of 
the work is very important. 
About the time when the first National Convention met, 
the drug and apothecary business was regarded as a trade, 
rather than as a profession based on scientific principles, as it 
isnow. It was known that deteriorated drugs were sold, and 
that valuable preparations in daily use were adulterated or 
made of materials of inferior quality. Such abuses were 
charitably ascribed to ignorance of pharmacy which was sup- 
posed to prevail among druggists and apothecaries generally. 
To remedy this lamentable condition of the apothecary’s 
vocation, some three-score of intelligent, philanthropic men, 
including a large proportion of members of the Society of 
Friends, associated in this city and founded, February 23, 1821, 
the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, asociety which was in- 
corporated, March 80, 1822, with all legai authority necessary 
to establish and support a school of pharmacy. 
The University of Pennsylvania had then recently provided 
for teaching pharmacy in connection with materia medica, and 
conferring the degree of Master of Pharmacy, which was con- 
ferred the first time in the spring of 1821 onsixteen graduates. 
This action of the University, it was said, greatly influenced, if 
it did not determine the formation of the Society known as the 
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. 
It consists of active or resident, honorary and foreign mem- 
bers. The conduct of its ordinary affairs is confided to sixteen 
trustees, one-half of whom are elected semi-annually by the col- 
lege. The stated meetings of the board of trustees are monthly, 
and of the college, quarterly. 
The first courses of lectures, which were limited to materia 
medica and chemistry, were given in the winter of 1821-22, 
