^^uaofis™'}     $tate  Pharmaceutical  Associations.  7 
to  the  medical  than  to  the  pharmaceutical  profession,  for  the  whole 
advance  in  medicine  in  modern  times  stands  on  this  basis,  and  the 
use  of  serum  has  familiarized  every  one  with  the  results  of  the 
method.  It  is  to  be  regretted,  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  that 
the  pharmacopceial  convention  did  not  consider  the  question  of 
pharmacological  tests  more  fully,  for  in  excluding  them  from  the  next 
edition  it  not  only  rejected  the  only  method  of  assay  in  many  cases, 
but  also  excluded  antidiphtheritic  serum,  which  is  certainly  the  most 
important  acquisition  to  therapeutics  in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century. 
Serumtherapy  will  scarcely  be  retarded,  but  the  authority  of  the 
pharmacopoeia,  which  continues  to  include  such  obsolete  remedies 
as  poison  ivy  and  fails  to  take  cognizance  of  this  most  important 
advance  in  medicine,  can  scarcely  be  augmented  by  the  decision. 
May  not  such  ultra-conservatism  be  the  explanation  of  the  apathy 
manifested  by  the  medical  profession  toward  the  official  record  of 
the  labors  of  the  convention  and  its  committees  ? 
THE  ORIGIN,  HISTORY  AND  INFLUENCE  OF  STATE 
PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATIONS. 
By  Joseph  Iy.  Lemberger,  Ph.M. 
In  presenting  this  paper  on  the  "  Origin,  History  and  Influence 
of  State  Pharmaceutical  Associations,"  I  must  apologize  for  appear- 
ing before  you  and  asking  of  you  to  listen  to  what  may  be  offered, 
for  the  reason  that  whatever  the  writer  may  be  able  to  perform  in 
his  daily  routine  of  busy  life,  he  makes  no  pretension  as  an  orator 
or  essayist,  and  it  is  not  his  ambition  either  to  so  pretend ;  the 
worthy  and  honored  secretary  of  these  pharmaceutical  gatherings 
does  not  agree  with  me  on  this  question.  Submitting  therefore  as 
gracefully  as  possible  to  the  powers  that  be,  we  proceed  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  duty  assigned. 
State  Pharmaceutical  Associations  have  a  common  origin,  the 
primal  motive  or  aim  being  to  "  unite  the  educated  and  reputable 
of  their  profession,  as  pharmacists  and  druggists,  for  their  mutual 
advancement  professionally  and  commercially." 
The  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  for  many  years  prior 
to  the  organization  of  the  first  State  association  had,  among  other 
objects,  a  similar  aim,  and  doubtless  all  State  associations  caught 
inspiration  for  organization  from  this  parent  body  which  could  not 
