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THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
THE AUSTRALASIAN 
Journal tsfj jjjharmacji 
With which is incorporated the Australasian 
Chemist and Druggist. 
Published on the 20 th of each Month. 
Office : College of Pharmacy, Swanston 
Street, Melbourne. 
London Agent : Mr. Francis Forrest, 
9 New Broad Street, London, E.C. 
This Journal, which is the only organ of 
Pharmacy in the Australasian Colonies, is 
devoted to the advancement of Pharmaceutical 
knowledge, and to the advocacy of a more 
thorough education and practical training for 
all persons engaged in preparing and dis- 
pensing medicines, drugs, and chemicals. It is 
issued gratis to the members of the Pharma- 
ceutical Society of Australasia in 
Victoria, 
New South Wales, 
New Zealand, 
Queensland, 
South Australia, 
Tasmania, 
Western Australia, 
Fiji, 
And to non-members at 10s. 6d. per annum, 
payable in advance. 
We guarantee a bona Jide circulation of 1000 
copies each month. 
Advertisements, remittances, and all business 
communications to be addressed to The Hon. 
Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society, 
Swanston Street, Melbourne. 
Communications for the Editorial depart- 
ment of this Journal must be addressed to The 
Editor, Swanston Street, Melbourne. 
No notice can be taken of anonymous 
communications. Whatever is intended for 
insertion must be authenticated by the name 
and address of the writer — not necessarily for 
publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. 
pharmacy a learned profession. 
A curious uncertainty appears to exist as to the position of the pharmaceutist in 
society. Generally pharmacy is styled an art, but not uncommonly we find its 
practitioners regarded merely as shopkeepers. We propose, however, to show 
that the claim to rank pharmacology with the learned professions is based upon 
a substantial foundation. The word “ profession/’ per se, carries little significance, 
since it is not easy to determine upon the exact line of demarcation which 
distinguishes it from “ trade” or “handicraft.” But it is essential to the rightful 
assumption of “learned profession” that its practitioners should require an 
educational training to qualify them for engaging in it, and that the successful 
performance of the duties relating thereto should not be chiefly dependent upon 
the possession of mechanical skill. While the establishment of the pharmaceutist 
is not infrequently styled a drug store— and it may be conceded that the 
retailing parcels of proprietary medicines or toilet requisites makes small 
demand upon the mental powers— yet it must also be remembered that these 
duties are of a very insignificant character when compared with the pharma- 
ceutist’s more serious business, to which they are merely accessory; and, as has 
been justly remarked, “his commerce is of such a nature as to exact the most 
scrupulous probity.” Nov is the pharmaceutist only a machine for translating a 
prescription and giving effect to a doctor’s instructions. He is much more than 
this. Of course, we have nothing to urge on behalf of the mere drug-vendor, or 
other person who may be permitted by the neglectful Legislature of the 
country in which he is located to assume the title “ pharmaceutical chemist” 
without due qualification. But the person authorised by educational and 
scientific training to assume that appellation is responsible for the quality of 
the drugs with which he deals. He should be acquainted with the nature of 
drugs, whether vegetable, animal, or mineral, and be informed as to how they are 
affected by combination or decomposition. It seems not too much to say that he- 
is the prescribe!’ of half the medicines which are prepared by him. And, furthermore, 
inasmuch as* he is largely brought into contact with members of the gentler sex, 
it is essential that he should be of gentlemanly address. Hence, that there 
should exist any doubt upon the point discussed, pharmaceutists have only 
themselves to blame. Where practitioners are so heedless of their social 
position as to remain aloof from the movement to raise the educational 
standard, and make it uniform throughout the colonies — which the Australasian 
