EDITORIAL.  281 
Prof.  Parrish  explained  that  apothecaries  desired  a  suspension  of  legis- 
lation in  order  that  time  might  be  had  to  perfect  a  bill  now  in  the  hands 
of  a  committee  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  He  ob- 
jected to  hasty  legislation  and  believed  mature  deliberation  necessary. 
A  committee  of  the  Trustees  was  now  co-operating  with  the  other  com- 
mittee, and  two  members  had  gone  to  Harrisburg  and  represented  to 
members  of  the  Legislature  the  position  of  the  College  of  Pharmacy  and 
druggists  generally  in  the  case,  and  why  they  wished  delay.  He  had 
prepared  a  series  of  resolutions  designed  to  represent  the  sentiment  of 
the  meeting,  if  approved,  and  also  had  a  copy  of  the  bill  of  the  Associa- 
tion as  modified  in  joint  committee.  At  this  juncture  the  reading  of  the 
objectionable  bill  (see  page  183  of  last  number)  was  called  for,  and  it  was 
read.  Prof.  Parrish  now  read  the  other  bill,  based  on  that  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, and  which  was  yet  incomplete.  This  bill  does  not  include  a  sec- 
tion relative  to  adulterated  drugs,  but  aims  at  the  registration  of  all  re- 
tail dealers  in  poisons  and  drugs  at  present  existing,  and  provides  that 
no  persons  shall  hereafter  be  registered  unless  they  shall  have  undergone 
a  successful  examination  by  a  properly  authorized  examining  board.  It 
also  regulates  the  sale  of  poisons,  a  schedule  of  which  is  annexed,  and 
excepts  country  physicians  who  keep  their  own  medicines. 
A  discussion  now  ensued,  during  which  several  speakers  rambled  from 
the  point  at  issue,  but  all  agreeing  that  the  bill  before  the  Legislature 
was  objectionable.  Prof.  Parrish  offered  the  following  preamble  and 
resolutions : 
Whereas,  There  is  an  obvious  necessity  for  the  enactment  of  laws  to 
regulate  the  selling  and  dispensing  of  medicines  and  poisons,  to  promote 
the  education  of  experts  fitted  to  assume  those  delicate  and  responsible 
duties,  and  thus  to  suppress  the  adulteration  and  sophistication  of  drugs 
and  medicines  ;  and  whereas,  those  only  who  by  education  and  experience 
are  acquainted  with  the  difficulties  of  the  subject  are  competent  to  frame 
laws  for  the  promotion  of  these  desirable  objects  : 
1.  Resolved,  That  the  safety  of  the  public  demands  that  it  should  be 
unlawful  for  any  one  to  sell  medicines  by  retail,  or  to  compound  the  pre- 
scriptions of  physicians,  without  being  first  examined  by  a  competent 
board  of  examiners  as  to  his  fitness  to  judge  of  and  test  the  qualities  and 
genuineness  of  drugs  and  chemicals,  and  to  mix,  combine,  and  dispense 
these  according  to  the  well-established  principles  of  pharmaceutical 
science. 
2.  Resolved,  That  the  sale  of  substances  dangerous  to  human  life  should 
be  especially  restricted  by  law,  and  connected  with  precautions  calculated 
to  insure  against  mistakes,  and  to  lead  to  the  detection  of  any  cases  of 
accidental  or  criminal  injury  or  homicide. 
3.  Resolved,  Thsit  "The  Pharmacy  and  Poison  Act,"  prepared  and 
now  in  course  of  revision  by  a  committee  of  the  American  Pharmaceuti- 
cal Association,  with  a  view  to  procuring  uniform  legislation  in  all  the 
States  of  the  Union,  in  its  leading  features  merits  our  approval,  and  we 
ask  for  it,  when  perfected  by  further  comparison  with  the  laws  of  foreign 
countries,  and  by  consultation  with  leading  pharmaceutists  in  this  and 
other  States,  the  careful  consideration  of  the  Legislature  and  of  the  com- 
munity for  whose  benefit  and  protection  it  is  designed. 
