EDITORIAL.  83 
novelties  and  flattered  by  pbaramceutists  into  the  approval  of  prepara- 
tions which  have  but  few  real  claims  to  merit.  This  arises  in  a  large 
degree  from  an  imperfect  acquaintance  with  that  part  of  their  profession 
which  bears  on  pharmacy.  We  have  been  led  into  this  course  of  thought 
by  a  movement  commenced  in  Cincinnati,  which  is  yet,  so  far  as  we 
know,  in  an  undeveloped  state,  called  forth  by  the  reading  of  a  report  by 
Dr.  Unzicker,  on  new  remedies  and  pharmacy.  In  the  comments  on  this 
paper,  Dr.  Thacker  suggested  the  appointment  of  an  inspector  of  drugs 
by  the  Board  of  Health,  giving  as  his  reasons  the  impurity  of  the  pre- 
parations and  drugs  sold  in  Cincinnati,  believing  it  hurtful  to  the  public 
health,  and  a  proper  subject  for  the  Board  to  act  upon.  Much  as  we 
desire  reformatory  measures,  we  very  much  doubt  the  policy  of  referring 
such  a  power  of  surveillance  to  the  boards  of  health,  as  they  are  usually 
constituted. 
In  evidence  of  the  correctness  of  this  opinion,  we  may  state  that  a 
committee  of  the  Cincinnati  Academy  of  Medicine  has  already  presented 
a  recommendation  to  the  Board  of  Health  of  that  city  (see  page  382 
Philada.  Med.  and  Surg.  Reporter,  Oct.  1868,)  asking  the  appointment 
of  an  inspector  of  drugs,  whose  duty  shall  be  "  to  examine  and  test  all 
such  articles  as  are  kept  in  drug  stores,  and  that  are  used  in  any  way  or 
manner  in  compounding  or  preparing  medicines,  or  used  as  remedies  for 
the  cure  of  diseases.  All  [wholesale]  drugstores  located  within  the  city 
limits  should  be  subject  to  inspection,  and  all  retail  establishments  shall 
be  inspected  at  least  twice  each  year."  Following  this  is  a  long  account 
of  the  details  of  the  proposed  inspection,  which  is  to  include  druggists, 
pharmaceutists,  quack  medicine  makers  and  venders,  and  drug  mills, 
and  includes  the  weights  and  measures,  the  observance  of  the  poison 
laws  and  the  qualifications  of  clerks,  and  winds  up  with  the  information 
that  each  inspection  of  a  retail  store  is  to  be  two  and  a  half  dollars,  of  a 
wholesale,  ten  dollars,  each,  and  of  a  patent  medicine  vender,  twenty 
dollars  each.  What  a  fat  position  this  office  would  afford  for  unsuccess- 
ful members  of  our  profession,  who,  whilst  they  had  not  sufficient  know- 
ledge to  gain  success  when  in  business,  could  doubtless  analyze  and  assay* 
drugs,  medicines  and  quackeries  by  intuitive  perception,  with  a  rapidity 
and  success  dependent  on  the  circumstances  the  case  offered.  With 
equal  propriety,  we  think  boards  of  health  might  proceed  to  appoint 
examiners,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  inquire  into  the  qualifications  of 
all  doctors  to  practice  medicine,  including  their  ability  to  write  legibly 
and  to  recognize  the  medicines  they  prescribe. 
It  will  be  much  better  for  pharmaceutists  to  take  the  initiative  by  re- 
forming themselves  by  aid  of  a  salutary  educational  law,  making  the 
diploma  of  a  responsible  chartered  institution  necessary  to  all  who 
practice  pharmacy  or  sell  poisons  by  retail.  The  American  Pharma- 
ceutical Association  at  its  last  meeting  appointed  a  large  and  able  com- 
