406       Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association.  {K™Lllllx*wfi™~ 
flimsy  pretense  of  legislating  for  the  protection  of  the  public  health. 
It  is  a  veritable  absurdity  as  a  legislative  enactment,  but  it  stands  as 
a  menace  to  the  interests  of  the  drug  trade  of  the  State  and  should 
be  repealed." 
Mr.  Cliffe  also  said  that,  "some  years  ago,  one  of  the  presidents 
of  this  Association  suggested  the  advisability  of  establishing  a 
medal  to  be  awarded  annually  for  the  best  paper  upon  a  pharma- 
ceutical topic,  or  for  a  new  pharmaceutical  device  or  implement,  or 
for  an  improvement  upon  one  already  in  use.  Just  where  the  sug- 
gestion originated  does  not  seem  to  be  a  matter  of  record,  but  the 
plan  is  one  that  commands  attention  as  being  well  adapted  for 
increasing  the  value  of  the  work  of  your  Committee  on  Papers  and 
Queries,  which  has  contributed  so  materially  to  the  high  standing 
of  this  Association  in  the  past.  It  is  probable  that  the  low  state  of 
the  finances  at  the  time  it  was  proposed  practically  precluded  con- 
sideration of  the  plan.  Now,  however,  a  majority  of  the  ex-presi- 
dents have,  after  a  consideration  of  the  question,  offered  to  donate 
the  funds  necessary  to  purchase  a  die  for  such  a  medal  if  it  is  the 
desire  of  the  Association  to  institute  such  a  prize.  The  only  expense 
to  the  Association  under  this  plan  would  be  the  small  sum  annually 
for  the  casting  and  such  engraving  as  might  be  necessary.  It  would 
seem  to  be  a  proper  method  of  perpetuating  the  memory  of  some 
deceased  and  honored  member  of  the  Association." 
The  reports  of  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  were  then  received, 
the  latter  reporting  a  balance  of  about  On  Wednesday  morn- 
ing, Harry  L.  Stiles,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Trade  Interests, 
made  a  very  interesting  report  of  the  excellent  work  done  this  past 
year  in  assisting  in  the  organization  of  numerous  local  societies  of 
pharmacists.  A  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  the  com- 
mittee. Short  speeches  were  then  made  by  various  members  rep- 
resenting some  of  these ,  local  societies.  The  conditions  on  the 
whole  were  quite  encouraging,  especially  so  in  Western  Pennsylva- 
nia and  in  Dauphin  County ;  quite  a  discussion  was  had  upon  the 
evil  effects  of  purchases  made  by  mail  agents  which  have  proved  to 
be  a  somewhat  disturbing  factor.  The  subject  was  referred  to  the 
committee  for  investigation  and  advice  as  to  the  action  to  be  taken. 
The  Executive  Committee  made  an  interesting  report  of  the  work 
done  by  them  the  past  year.  The  Committee  on  Adulterations 
reported  having  investigated  a  number  of  drugs  the  past  year, 
amongst  them  being  asafetida  and  flaxseed  meal. 
