402 
PHARMACY  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
That  the  position  of  the  apothecary,  under  these  circum- 
stanceSj  is  a  very  burdensome  one  cannot  be  denied.  I  am  well 
aware  of  the  current  opinion  that  everything  is  kept  in  Ameri- 
can retail  drug-stores  that  promises  a  return  of  profit — even  from 
brooms  down  to  axle-grease. 
It  is  quite  true  that  there  is  no  law  that  forbids  the  apothecary 
to  keep  anything  that  promises  a  good  sale,  and  there  may  be 
a  few  stray  establishments  where  you  can  find  these  articles ; 
still,  these  are  exceptions,  not  the  rule.  Their  owners  do  not 
aspire  to  the  title  of  apothecaries,  and  they  are  conscientious 
enough  either  to  confine  themselves  to  the  selling  of  drugs,  or  to 
separate  the  dispensing  department  from  it,  and  to  employ  com- 
petent apothecaries  for  this  purpose. 
But  I  can  remember,  from  former  times,  many  an  establish- 
ment in  Germany,  where  articles  such  as  shoe-hlaching^  inks, 
varnishes  and  cordials  were  largely  manufactured,  while,  at  the 
same  time,  the  dispensing  department  was  conducted  with  the 
most  conscientious  accuracy.  In  general,  the  gratifying  fact  is 
to  be  noticed  in  the  United  States,  that,  in  proportion  as  the 
scientific  attainments  of  the  apothecary  improve,  he  awakes 
more  to  the  feeling  that  his  profession  ranks  above  ordinary 
business,  that  the  confidence  of  the  public  is  his  sole  support, 
and  that  he  becomes  constantly  more  aware  of  his  responsible 
position.  It  will  not  be  long  before  the  several  States  will  enact 
laws,  requiring  a  proof  of  scientific  qualification  of  those  that 
want  to  practise  pharmacy. 
Until  now  the  pharmaceutists,  in  their  own  specific  interest, 
have  taken  the  scientific  improvement  and  the  elevation  of  their 
professional  standing  into  their  own  hands.  Numerous  associa- 
tions have  formed  all  over  the  land,  constituting  themselves  as 
Colleges  of  Pharmacy,  obtaining  charters  (^.  g.,  corporation 
rights)  from  the  Oovernment.  Some  of  the  colleges  have 
scientific  journals,  and  have  regular  meetings  in  which  questions 
of  scientific  and  common  business  interest  are  discussed.  They 
are  bound  by  laws  to  open  a  course  of  scientific  instruction. 
They  hold  usually  winter  courses  of  lectures  upon  diff*erent 
branches  of  pharmaceutical  science,  according  to  their  means. 
The  older  and  more  prosperous  colleges  entertain  pharmaceutical 
