Ajanwy,Pi902m"}     State  Pharmaceutical  Associations.  II 
gates,  and  sometimes  points  near  the  boundary  line  can  be  found 
where  meetings  are  held  simultaneously  and  very  pleasant  joint  ses- 
sions of  the  neighboring  States  have  been  held.  We  remember  a 
very  pleasant  occasion  of  the  kind  held  by  the  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  Associations,  with  the  prospect  of  a  similar  meeting  in 
the  near  future,  and  the  writer  has  no  doubt  but  that  soon  other 
States  will  follow.  Such  meetings,  when  judiciously  managed,  can 
be  made  influential  means  for  the  general  welfare. 
The  skilled  pharmacist  does  not  require  the  influence  of  the  State 
Pharmaceutical  Association  to  encourage  either  his  practical  work 
or  desire  for  knowledge,  as  this  class  finds  an  ample  field  in  the  shop 
laboratory.  The  association  is,  however,  honored  by  their  mem- 
bership, and  when  thus  affiliated  the  contributions,  either  by  volun- 
teer papers  or  speeches,  are  sometimes  far-reaching. 
Some  persons  hold  the  opinion  that  the  influence  of  State  Asso- 
ciations is  practically  realized  in  the  commercial  feature.  As  an 
illustration,  take  any  of  the  numerous  plans  proposed  for6  correct- 
ing some  of  the  latter-day  perplexing  evils  that  beset  the  financial 
side  of  the  drug  business ;  they  are  generally  well  discussed  and 
the  result  of  such  consideration  usually  carries  weight  to  the 
national  bodies  that  may  have  final  disposition. 
There  may  be  danger  in  making  State  associations  too  scientific, 
of  carrying  too  much  commercialism,  or  of  having  too  much  of  the 
social  frolic  feature;  but  when  we  recall  that  side  by  side  there  is  a 
commingling  of  the  grave  college  professor,  the  chemist,  pharma- 
cist, jobbing  druggist  or  his  jolly  salesman,  the  soda-water  appara- 
tus, suppository  machine  or  other  mechanical  appliance  representa- 
tive, all  meeting  together  for  the  best  or  most  fruitful  good  time, 
really  having  a  communion  of  interests,  an  equilibrium  can  be  had, 
and  there  may  not  be  any  necessity  for  many  safeguards. 
Let  me  say  in  conclusion,  that  what  has  been  presented  in  this 
paper,  whilst  strictly  hormonizing  with  fact,  the  State  Pharmaceu- 
tical Association  is  nevertheless  environed  with  certain  conditions 
upon  which  depends  the  possibility  of  becoming  permanently  use- 
ful. Their  ideal  must  be  kept  up  to  the  highest  possible  standard. 
Excellent  pharmacy  and  commercial  integrity  must  be  the  leading 
aim,  so  that  the  unaffiliated  of  the  craft  may  be  attracted,  the 
broken  ranks  filled,  and  the  hitherto  excellent  work  of  State  asso- 
ciations perpetuated. 
