PHAEMACEUTICAL ETHICS. 
147 
more strictly chemical, some botanical, and in our day many more or less con¬ 
nected -with our own pursuits. It is the strict ethical duty of a pharmaceutist 
occasionally to contribute to some one of these. If, like the Master of Ravens- 
wood, he bides his time, he can without question furnish something that will 
promote his own interest, if only by way of reputation, as well as aid the general 
advance of science. 
Now just as it is a capital mistake to consider that ethics concern masters 
only, and not assistants, so also is it another to consider that ethics apply simply 
to the writer while an editor is exempt. 
I am not going to plunge into the troubled waters of the periodical press, but 
I cannot refrain from stating that there is one ethical obligation on the part of an 
editor wdiich is of vital importance : he should, as far as possible, bring himself 
into contact with and become the personal friend of his contributors, and should 
sometimes write, not from his office desk, but from his owui arm-chair. 
The chiefs of general literature are proudly conspicuous for their true ethical 
behaviour ; the warmest greeting, the heartiest shake of the hand, and the most 
cordial invitation come from the London editor, while who does not know that 
many a journal has been created into a sound commercial speculation not only 
by the genius but by the contagious affability of its respective editor ? 
One thing more—an editor should pay special attention to his young con¬ 
tributors. A practised eye can tell about how much a communication may be 
wmrth; if it has good stuff in it, tell the writer so, and he will nerve his full 
strength to surpass his former effort. There is a wonderful passage in Ruskin 
on this point. I cannot find the reference, but I believe it to be in the first 
critique on the paintings of the Royal Academy. I have also totally forgotten 
the wording, but I can convey the sense of the passage in my own weaker 
phraseology. 
Praise the young man whose hopes are yet but hopes, and whose aspirations 
are as dreamy and uncertain as the cloud drifted before the wind. A few v/ords 
of kindness may give a purpose to his mere imaginings, and may stimulate him 
to high endeavour. Praise the young man ; for when once success has crowmed 
his efforts, and the laurel wreath has entwined his brow, you may praise inch 
thick, and he will simply ponder in his mind how much or how little your praise 
is worth. 
Section V. 
PERSONAL ETHICS. 
The Behaviour of the Pharmaceutist as an Individual. 
Let us bask for a few moments in the gleam of sunshine which this sub- 
ject offers, and let this section be what a learned Divine has termed an 
Eirenicon. Should any, therefore, have been offended that I have uniformly 
called pharmacy a trade, I here make amends by allowing them to be as profes¬ 
sional as they choose. In the first place a man should cultivate a love for his 
own business—its exercise should be to him a source of pleasure, and its various 
occupations should contribute to his happiness. In other words he should put 
his heart into the handle of the trowel. With some men this is natural, tlnice 
happy is their lot; others must acquire the gift, for the heavy discontented 
spirit is the most sapping of all malign influences. Go to Haarlem and see how- 
the careful florists get their roses out of manure and sand ; a flower all beauty 
from so strange a soil; and then go home, and though the prospect be not 
always cheery, set a bold face on it, have a courageous heart, get to like your 
occupation, and you may beat the Dutchman yet. 
Let me respectfully suggest that this love of your own business need not place 
you at any extreme angle from the interests of other people. It is a just re- 
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