EDITORIAL. 
373 
Society  for  the  Improvement  of  Pharmacy"  to  pass  a  resolution  to  create 
a  new  class  of  assistants,  whose  education  is  to  be  conducted  by  the 
apothecaries  of  Amsterdam.  During  a  period  of  two  years  they  are  to  be 
instructed  in  the  rudiments  of  the  Latin  language  and  in  the  dispensing 
of  prescriptions.  They  shall  then  be  regarded  as  examined  apprentices, 
entitled  to  compound  prescriptions,  but  shall  not  rank  as  assistants. 
The  proposition  has  been  approved  by  the  Medical  Council,  but  at  the 
same  time  the  responsibility  to  which  apothecaries  subject  themselves 
was  pointed  out.  In  1869  4  candidates  have  applied  for  examination  as 
apothecaries,  and  19  as  assistants ;  5  of  the  latter  passed.  M.  Geerts, 
military  apothecary,  and  formerly  lecturer  on  chemistry,  at  Utrecht,  has 
been  appointed  by  the  Japanese  government,  professor  of  natural  history 
and  chemistry  at  Nangaski.  Another  Dutch  sanitary  officer,  Dr.  Yan 
Mansvebst,  is  professor  in  the  same  school. 
.The  Third  International  Congress  of  Pharmaceutical  Societies 
AND  Associations. — The  Congress  at  Paris  in  1867,  at  its  second  session, 
resolved  to  hold  a  third  Congress  in  1869.  The  Committee  having  the 
selection  of  the  place,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Pfefifer,  Robinet,  Wolfrum, 
Dankworth  and  Beckert,  has  selected  Vienna,  and  has  entrusted  the 
General  Austrian  Apothecaries'  Association  with  the  preliminary  arrange- 
ment. In  the  Zeitsclirift,  published  by  this  Association,  on  the  16th  of 
January  last,  page  29 — 32,  the  directory  publish  a  programme,  and 
cordially  invite  active  participation  : 
Programme. 
The  Third  International  Congress  will  be  held  in  Yienna  on  the  9th, 
10th  and  11th  of  September,  1869,  and  will  consist- only  of  delegates  of 
recognized  Pharmaceutical  Societies  and  Associations.  Every  such 
society  or  association  may  elect  one  delegate  for  every  50  of  its  members, 
whose  function  ceases  with  the  Congress.  The  deputies  must  bring 
written  credentials  from  the  represented  bodies.  The  objects  of  the 
Congress  are  discussions  on  professional  and  scientific  questions  connected 
with  pharmacy.  Members  present  at  the  first  session  shall  elect  the 
officers,  consisting  of  a  president,  two  vice-presidents,  three  secretaries 
and  one  interpreter,  who  shall  edit  the  minutes  of  the  Congress.  Ques- 
tions submitted  to  the  Congress  will  be  referred  to  committees,  and  their 
reports  discussed. 
The  discussion  will  generally  be  in  the  German  language,  but  foreign 
delegates,  unable  to  speak  German,  may  debate  in  their  own  language. 
The  interpreter  will  intervene  to  aid  them  as  much  as  possible. 
Essays  in  writing  on  the  subject  under  consideration  are  admissible 
only  by  sanction  of  the' officers. 
Essays  on  questions  in  the  programme  must  be  sent  in  before  June 
30th,  1869,  to  be  considered.  Decisions  are  by  a  majority  of  votes.  All 
societies  desiring  to  take  part  by  deputy  should  inform  the  Committee 
before  Sept.  1,  1869,  and  these  and  all  other  communications  relative  to 
the  Congress  are  to  be  addressed  to  "The  Committee  of  Organization  of 
the  Third  International  Congress,  Yienna,  City,  Anna  Street,  No.  8,  2d 
story." 
