EDITORIAL. 
573 
Secretaries,  Yon  Waldheim  and  Dittrich  Interpreters.  The  officers  then 
took  their  seats,  and  the  discussion  of  the  questions  commenced  (see 
page  374  of  the  July  number)  with  the  first — on  the  advisability  of  inde- 
pendent schools  of  Pharmacy.  M.  SchifFner  regarded  this  reform  as  in- 
dispensable for  progress.  M.  Georgino  explained  the  course  at  the  Ecole 
de  Fharmacie,  at  Paris,  which  lasts  three  years,  and  both  he  and  Robi- 
net  advocated  such  schools.  Yon  Trap  spoke  in  the  affirmative.  Schlos- 
ser  in  favor  of  such  schools  connected  with,  but  as  a  distinct  branch,  of 
the  University,  so  that  the  apothecary  will  not  have  to  receive  his  teach- 
ing from  the  medical  stand-point.  Yon  Trapp  insisted  that  the  teachers 
should  be  apothecaries,  or  such  as  understand  and  can  teach  pharmacy 
to  advantage.  To  the  pure  chemist  all  bodies  are  alike  and  apothecaries 
become  scientific  but  not  practical.  Faber  explained  the  courses  in  the 
American  Colleges  of  Pharmacy,  and '  advocated  the  separation  of  Phar- 
maceutical from  Medical  instruction.  Reimann  stated  that  North  Ger- 
many was  in  favor  of  letting  the  apothecary  get  his  knowledge  where 
and  how  he  pleased  so  he  could  pass  the  examination.  The  discussion 
was  continued  by  Messrs.  Wolfrom,  Schiffner,  Redwood,  Mosca  and  - 
Mirus,  nearly  all  agreeing  in  the  necessity  of  having  pharmaceutists  as 
teachers,  when  the  following  answer  was  adopted,  viz. : — The  establish- 
ment of  pharmaceutical  schools  as  separate  branches  of  the  universities, 
and  with  the  appointment  of  apothecaries  for  all  purely  pharmaceutical 
branches  is  as  much  m  the  interest  of  the  public  as  in  that  of  pharmacy. 
The  second  question,  relative  to  the  creation  of  "  syndic  chambers  "  (or 
"boards  "of  apothecaries  to  be  elected  annually)  from  each  district,  to 
manage  affairs  between  the  authorities  and  the  apothecaries  by  arbitra- 
tion, was  decided  affirmatively. 
The  third  query,  reported  on  by  Reimann,  whether  the  supremacy  ex- 
ercised by  physicians  over  pharmaceutical  affairs  is  useful  to  the  state,  the 
public,  and  the  apothecaries,  was  decided  unanimously  in  the  negative. 
The  extensive  range  of  medical  studies  prevents  the  physician  from 
understanding  pharmacy  practically,  and  he  is  not  a  proper  judge  of  its 
requirements.  In  consequence,  despite  the  existing  laws,  the  medical 
control  has  become  in  a  great  measure  nominal ;  and  to  look  upon  phar- 
macy as  an  appendage  to  medicine  is  an  antiquated  idea.  The  committee 
recommend  a  mixed  board  of  physicians  and  apothecaries,  presided  over 
by  a  lawyer. 
The  fourth  query,  relative  to  a  universal  Pharmacopoeia,  was  not 
practically  acted  upon ;  M.  Waldheim,  however,  stated  that  the  Societe 
de  Pharmacie  had  compiled  a  small  codex,  bringing  about  100  of  the 
stronger  preparations  of  nearly  all  Pharmacopoeias  into  a  parallel  rela- 
tion, so  that  their  nomenclature,  composition  and  synonyms  may  be  ex- 
amined with  readiness  ;  and  he  advised  that  copies  should  be  sent  to  all 
pharmaceutical  societies. 
The^/((/i  query,  relative  to  assaying  organic  alkaloids,  was  referred  to 
the  next  Congress  and  not  acted  upon. 
