(SMtortal  department. 
The  American  Pharmaceutical  Association. — The  next  meeting  of 
that  body  will  take  place  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  Tuesday,  the  25th  of 
July,  1854,  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.M.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  those  of  the 
brethren  who  keep  alive  a  little  flame  of  interest  towards  the  Association 
and  its  objects,  will  spontaneously  spread  the  knowledge  of  its  existence 
and  intentions.  We  take  pleasure  in  directing  the  attention  of  our  readers 
to  the  remarks  of  the  Secretary,  at  page  115,  of  the  present  number.  It  is 
also  gratifying  to  observe  that  the  Statistical  Committee  are  giving  unmis- 
takeable  evidence  of  their  earnestness.  The  importance  of  the  results  they 
aim  at,  to  the  future  usefulness  of  the  Association,  is  so  certain,  that  the 
gentlemen  who  may  be  called  upon  by  circular  fur  information,  will  be  doing 
real  service  by  giving  the  fullest  information  they  possess.  In  our  opinion 
it  is  entirely  in  consonance  with  the  objects  of  the  Association,  to  receive 
communications,  on  scientific  or  professional  subjects,  from  individuals, 
and  the  reading  of  such  will  undoubtedly  enhance  the  interest  of  the 
meeting  and  the  value  of  the  published  proceedings.  We,  therefore,  hope 
that  any  pharmaceutist,  (whether  a  member  or  not,)  who  may  have  made 
scientific  observations,  or  who  may  have  views  important  to  the  pharma- 
ceutical interests  of  the  country,  will  feel  free  to  bring  or  send  them.  If 
they  should  prove  of  sufficient  interest  for  publication,  the  meeting  will 
doubtless  direct  such  disposition  to  be  made  :  if  not,  they  will  be  laid  on 
the  table.  Of  course  it  would  be  proper  for  all  such  communications  to  be 
brought  forward  by  a  Committee  appointed  to  examine  them,  which  would 
prevent  any  inappropriate  matter  from  wasting  the  time  of  the  meetings. 
Legislation  against  Quackery  in  Virginia. — Opposition  by  the 
Druggists. — The  history  of  the  recent  movement  in  the  Virginia  Legisla- 
ture against  quackery,  would  take  more  space  than  we  have  at  command. 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  our  brethren  should  have  been  placed  in  such  a 
dilemma,  by  the  hasty  action  of  a  few  members  of  the  medical  profession, 
as  to  have  found  it  necessary  to  raise  their  voices  in  favor  of  quackery,  rather 
than  suffer  in  their  business.  It  is  a  lamentable  instance  of  the  impolicy  of 
the  compulsory  reform  of  abuses  that  are  clearly  interwoven  with  the  cus- 
toms of  society,  without  having  previously  prepared  the  way  ;  and  especially 
it  proves,  in  this  country,  where  popular  opinion  has  a  powerful  influence  on 
legislative  action,  that  such  attempts,  however  good  the  object,  as  in  this 
instance,  only  react  in  favor  of  the  abuses  attacked.  If  the  bill  had  been 
matured  with  the  sanction  of  the  Druggists,  and  made  prospectively  effec- 
tive— say  at  the  end  of  a  year,  or  two  yeais — the  Old  Dominion,  so  often  the 
leader  in  great  movements,  might  have  successfully  commenced  the  attack 
on  this  great  system  of  evil,  and  have  led  to  its  ultimate  downfall. 
