REMARKS ON THE REVISION OF THE PHARMACOPOEIA. 7 
If such a course was pursued, its effects on the Pharma- 
copoeia, however beneficial, would be but secondary to its 
results on the state of pharmacy throughout the country. 
In many of the cities and towns of France, it is common for 
the apothecaries to form societies for their mutual benefit 
and improvement, which associations embrace the pos- 
session of a library, a laboratory, and sometimes a botanical 
garden, but generally without a school of pharmacy. This 
is a course well worthy of the attention of American phar- 
maceutists, if adopted in places like Pittsburg, Cincinnati or 
St. Louis, Charleston, New Orleans, Albany or Buffalo. 
Associations of this kind, having for their object the ele- 
vation of the profession and the improvement of its mem- 
bers, by the establishment of libraries, embracing works on 
Pharmacy and the accessory sciences, (including some of 
the best periodicals, both foreign and domestic,) to which 
might be added, in process of time, a laboratory for the use 
of the members — and by encouraging correct principles and- 
discouraging empyricism — would be productive of lasting 
benefit, and would create in each place an esprit du corps, 
that would manifest its existence in a question like the one 
under discussion, by calling forth a degree of respect pro- 
portioned to the tone of proceedings it originated. I know 
it will be said that petty jealousies and the restless pursuit 
of wealth would interfere with the formation or existence of 
societies, which in their nature would be to a greater or less 
extent the censors of their neighbourhoods. Be it so ; — it 
is an additional motive for their establishment ; and if twenty 
or ten will not join, let five commence the good work, for 
they will be amply rewarded in the end. The amount of 
funds which five individuals will be able to subscribe, 
though small, and perhaps inadequate to the possession of 
a place of meeting with its accompaniments, would be 
amply sufficient to purchase a set of the most approved 
pharmaceutical and chemical works, and to subscribe to 
some of the best scientific periodicals bearing on the pro- 
