EDITORIAL. 
475 
in  the  afternoon  (or  all  day),  to  be  used  as  a  place  of  reference  to  settle  any 
point  that  might  arise  in  our  business  ;  to  make  the  Library  and  Cabinet  at  all 
times  available,  in  fact,  an  Apothecaries*  Exchange,  and  all  at  a  small  expense. 
Twenty-five  members,  by  agreeing  to  take  charge  of  the  room  one  afternoon  in 
each  month  (for  certain  hours),  would  accomplish  it  all.  Our  intercourse  with 
each  other  would  be  there  ;  our  bulletin  board  would  contain  all  new  formulae. 
All  persons  in  want  of  assistance  in  their  stores  could  come  here  for  such  ;  clerks 
in  want  of  employment  would  register  their  names  and  references  here  ;  and 
samples  of  all  new  varieties  of  goods  could  here  be  shown.  Physicians  meet- 
ing in  this  room  also,  would  be  informed,  by  our  bulletin,  of  any  new  medicine 
or  formula  we  wished  to  introduce  to  them,  and  from  their  board  we  could  learn 
what  they  wished  to  introduce  to  us.  All  disputes  arising  in  our  business  could 
here  be  adjusted  ;  and  many  other  advantages  secured,  in  the  execution  of  such 
a  plan. 
One  provision  in  the  proposition  was,  to  allow  the  stock  to  be  owned  by  those 
not  members  of  the  College,  for  the  purpose  of  extending  the  benefits  of  the 
Library  to  those  who  may  not  be  qualified  for  membership. 
The  Trustees  have  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  a  design  for  a  new  di- 
ploma or  certificate  of  membership.  It  was  expected  that  the  committee  would 
have  been  ready  to  report  at  this  meeting.  Several  designs  are  in  progress,  but 
none  have  been  procured,  as  yet,  which  the  committee  consider  suitable.  All 
of  the  old  edition  have  been  used,  and  the  stone  from  which  they  were  printed 
lost  or  destroyed.  It  is,  therefore,  absolutely  necessary  to  have  a  new  one  ;  and 
the  question  arises,  whether,  with  our  limited  means,  we  procure  one  with  re- 
ference to  economy,  or  one  of  elaborate  design  and  workmanship. 
The  committee  are  of  opinion  that  a  handsome  certificate  of  membership 
would  do  a  great  deal  to  advance  the  interest  of  the  College;  and  as  many  of 
our  members  are  unable  to  attend  its  meetings  or  avail  themselves  of  many  of 
its  privileges,  they  would  look  upon  the  possession  of  a  handsome  diploma  as 
one  of  the  principal  objects  of  membership. 
The  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  rely  in  a  great  measure  upon  Col- 
leges of  Pharmacy  for  aid  in  the  execution  of  their  designs.  Already  has  the 
college  canvassed  New  England  with  its  circulars,  and  received  flattering  testi- 
monials of  favor;  and  while  we  are  doing  our  mite  in  gaining  information,  col- 
lectins  statistics,  and  trying  to  make  professional  progress  here,  our  Southern 
and  Western  brethren  are  doing  still  more  in  their  section  of  the  country 
towards  the  same  object,  and  we  shall  reap  equal  benefit  with  them  in  the  im- 
mense amount  of  labor  now  being  performed  by  that  Association.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  we  shall  not  fall  behind  them  in  our  efforts  for  the  general  good. 
One  important  object  that  they  are  trying  to  accomplish,  is  to  collect,  in  all 
places  of  the  United  States,  ail  local  formulas  not  officinal,  and  publish  them  un- 
der their  local  or  appropriate  titles,  so  that  such  medicines  prescribed  in  any  of 
our  southern  or  western  cities  can  be  put  up  here,  and  vice  versa. 
The  next  meeting  of  the  Association  takes  place  in  Cincinnati,  in  luly  next, 
before  another  meeting  of  the  College.  We  are  entitled  to  five  representatives, 
and  the  question  arises  how  many  shall  we  send  ;  and  if  any,  what  instructions 
shall  be  given  them  as  a  basis  for  their  action,  as  the  voice  of  this  College  on 
the  several  important  questions  to  be  discussed  and  decided  at  that  time.  That 
the  Association  has  already  accomplished  much,  there  is  no  doubt ;  and  that  it 
is  destined  to  wield  a  powerful  influence  in  future,  is  also  beyond  a  question,  and 
it  is  undoubtedly  the  interest  and  policy  of  this  College  to  lend  its  influence  and 
co-operalion. 
Some  provision  should  be  made  for  the  better  education  of  assistants  in  our 
dispensing  stores.  Our  apprentice  system,  if  such  is  an  appropriate  term,  is 
very  defective,  and  should  receive  more  special  attention  from  the  College. 
Our  College  has  long  felt  the  want  of  some  practical  Pharmaceutists,  with  a 
thorough  theoretical  education,  qualified  to  take  the  professorships,  and  it  is 
believed  that  the  limited  success  of  our  lectures  this  winter  is  owing  to  that 
cause.  It  would  be  well  if  the  College  could  devise  some  means  to  remedy 
this  evil. 
