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THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
THE AUSTRALASIAN 
Journal off I] liar main 
With which in incorporated the Australasian 
Chemist and Druggist. 
Published on the 20th of each Month. 
Office: College of Pharmacy, Swanston 
Street, Melbourne. 
London Agent: Mr. Francis Forrest, 
9 New Broad Street, London, E 0. 
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. i South Australia, 
New South Wales, i Tasmania, 
New Zealand, Western Australia, 
Queensland, ; Fiji, 
And to non-members at 10s. Gd. per annum, 
payable in advance. 
We guarantee a bona fule 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. 
Wftxt&vmL 
OUR FIRST HALF-YEAR. 
With this issue the Australasian Journal of Pharmacy completes the first half- 
year of its existence. It is a recognised feature of literary enterprise that troubles 
and difficulties are necessarily incidental to the early life of a periodical, of whatso- 
ever character, lo the projectors of man} r products of the printing press, unhappily, 
there never comes the success which enables past trials to be regarded with com- 
placency. Launched upon troubled waters, it is often their misfortune never to 
taste the sweets of a successful establishment. Issued under exceptionally favour- 
able circumstances, since, in another form, we had held what we are pleased to con- 
sider a recognised place in the pharmaceutical world of Australasia for a number of 
years, the entire reorganisation of our staff of contributors, and the settlement of the 
hundred and one matters of detail entailed in the jiroject of presenting what is prac- 
tically a new magazine, were yet performed only with grave difficulty, and not with- 
out trepidation. That we were confident that our efforts would be rewarded is 
evidenced by our having acted upon our opinion that Australasian pharmacy 
demanded an extended advocacy of its interests, and that the establishment of an 
improved vehicle for the publication of knowledge and news interesting to the 
profession would be welcomed and supported. We trust to be excused some exulta- 
tion in the fact that our anticipations have been realised even beyond our most sanguine 
expectations. We submit that the Australasian Journal of Pharmacy is not a 
mere trade journal. It is the organ of pharmacy, giving publicity to manufacturers' 
medicinal and chemical productions, and to the advertisements of those with whom 
pharmacists have business, but having in its advocacy of legal reforms essential to 
the well-being of the profession, and in the dissemination of scientific knowledge and 
pharmaceutical information, a purpose and a status such as no mere proprietary 
trade journal can ever hope to be assumed to possess. Our position is further sup- 
ported by the fact that the editorial work of our Journal has been of an honorary 
character throughout, and that it is issued under the immediate auspices of the 
Pharmaceutical Society of Australasia, whose register of members comprises not 
merely \ ictorian pharmacists, but whose clientele extends to the whole of the 
colonies. While, therefore, it would be beneath our dignity to publish the compli- 
mentary letters which our improved appearance has elicited in all quarters, how- 
ever much we value them, we may be permitted to refer to the gratifying fact that 
