532 
Pharmacy,  A  Profession. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
J  November,  1910. 
it  would,  therefore,  be  the  part  of  wisdom  to  arrange  that  such  treat- 
ment should  be  given  intelligently  and  in  accordance  with  proper 
legal  restrictions,  not  as  a  commercial  business,  but  as  a  branch  of 
medical  practice  under  control  of  medical  laws. 
FUNCTION  OF  THE  PHARMACOLOGIC  PROFESSION. 
The  function  of  the  pharmacologic  profession  shall  be : 
1.  To  promote  progress  in  the  science  of  pharmacology  and  the 
practice  of  the  useful  arts  of  pharmacognosy,  pharmacy, 
pharmacodynamics,  and  therapydynamics. 
a.  By  investigating  the  substances  from  all  parts  of  the  wTorld, 
which  are,  or  may  be,  used  as  medicines,  and  intro- 
ducing them  to  science  and  commerce. 
b.  By  devising  methods  for  their  identification,  selection, 
preparation,  preservation,  compounding,  and  dispens- 
ing. 
c.  By  adopting  and  maintaining  standards  for  their  protec- 
tion against  adulteration,  sophistication,  and  fraudu- 
lent substitution. 
d.  By  legislation  for  the  protection  of  standards  (pure  food 
and  drug  laws)  :  for  the  protection  of  the  profession 
from  encroachments  from  without  upon  its  field 
(pharmacy  laws)  ;  for  the  protection  of  the  profession 
from  malpractice  on  the  part  of  its  members  (code  of 
ethics)  ;  to  protect  materia  medica  science  and  com- 
merce (copyright,  patent,  and  trade-mark  laws). 
2.  To  co-operate  with  the  medical  profession  in  the  prevention 
of  disease  and  the  treatment  of  the  sick. 
a.  By  refraining  from  encroachment  upon  the  field  of  med- 
ical practice. 
b.  By  refraining  from  advertising  medicines  for  self-medica- 
tion. 
c.  By  taking  an  active  part  in  educating  the  public  against 
the  abuse  of  drugs. 
d.  By  acting  as  a  medium  for  the  dissemination  of  informa- 
tion in  relation  to  the  prevention  of  communicable  dis- 
ease, such  as  tuberculosis,  smallpox,  etc. 
3.  To  practise  the  pharmacologic  arts  by  selecting,  preparing. 
preserving,  compounding,  and  dispensing  medicines,  in 
accordance  with  professional  and  scientific  requirements. 
