THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
367 
THE AUSTRALASIAN 
Journal of] 
With which is incorporated the Australasian 
Chemist and Druggist. 
Published on the 20 th of each Month. 
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. Subscriptions may com- 
mence at any time. 
We guarantee a bona fide circulation of 1250 
copies each month. 
Advertisements, remittances, and all busi- 
ness communications to be addressed to The 
Publisher, College of Pharmacy, Swan- 
ston 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. 
The Editor will be glad to consider any 
suggestions from Members and Subscribers 
regarding the improvement of this publication. 
Contributions of any items of interest are 
invited. 
Advertisements to be inserted in the next 
issue should be received by the Publisher not 
later than the 14th of each month. 
Offices : 
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, 
SWANSTON ST., MELBOURNE. 
New South Wales : 
Communications for the Editorial or Pub- 
lishing Departments of this Journal may be 
addressed to the Local Agents, Box No. 1103, 
General Post Office. 
Copies of the Journal can be obtained from 
Messrs. Angus & Robertson, Market 
Street, Sydney, 
London Agents : 
Messrs. Francis Forrest & Co., 0 New 
Broad Street, E.O. 
American Agents : 
Messrs. McKesson & Robbins, New York, 
U.S.A. 
Readers are respectfully requested to mention 
this Journal when acting on information obtained 
from it. 
PBOPEIETAEY MEDICINES AND SECEET NOSTEUMS. 
However much the views of the delegates at the forthcoming Intercolonial Con- 
ference may differ on the first four resolutions to be discussed, there is not, we 
think, much likelihood of there being any great divergence of opinion on the fifth, 
viz. : — “ That the rapid increase in the trade of proprietary medicines and secret 
nostrums is antagonistic to the true interest of pharmacy.” How rapid that 
increase has been within the last two decades is strikingly illustrated by the 
figures supplied in the recently published report of the British Board of Inland 
[Revenue. Twenty years ago there were only 11,520 patent medicine vendors in 
the kingdom, and only seven and a half millions of labels were issued, yielding 
£60,000 to the revenue. Ten years afterwards the number had increased to 
15,022, and nearly sixteen million labels were issued, yielding £123,000. Last 
year the number had increased to no less than 20,000 vendors, and twenty-one 
and a half millions of labels, yielding an income to the Government of £179,000. 
In the United States a similar or even worse condition of things would seem to 
exist. There is, says a writer in an American contemporary, “much of science 
connected with the calling of the pharmacist which calls for higher attainments 
than does any strictly mercantile calling, while, at the same time, the opportunity 
for the use of these attainments — in this country at least — is yearly becoming less. 
Pharmacy is fast losing its professional character, and becoming a mere trade? 
the large manufacturer possessing the science and doing the work that ought 
largely to be done by the pharmacist proper, the pharmacist thus becoming the 
