92 
EDITORIAL. 
mensuration and skilful draughting, brought to bear on the mere mechani- 
cal parts of his business, together with a sufficient knowledge of the materials 
with which he works, that distinguishes the true master carpenter — the 
builder — the architect — he who unites gracefulness of outline and utility of 
object in the construction of our private and public edifices. So it is with the 
pharmaceutist ; it is not merely in the use of the pestle and mortar, the balance 
and weights, the spatula and measure glass that he is to be skilful ; these and 
the other practical details are as necessary to him as the use of the jack- 
plane, the chissel, and the square, are to the carpenter; but he should be 
familiar with the laws and materials of chemistry that he may mix correctly 
and avoid incompatibilities ; he should be well read in the sciences accessory 
to pharmacy, that he may know that he is not selling Belladonna for Hyos- 
cyamus, or potatoe starch for the fecula of the Maranta, and not risk his 
reputation on the probable accuracy of those who sell him drugs; and lastly 
he should be versed in therapeutics to detect the errors of physicians when 
they happen to prescribe wrong articles or inordinate doses. 
A special education, then, adapted to his profession, all will admit, is as 
necessary to the pharmaceutist as to the builder — it is a sense of this 
fact that has aroused our Boston brethren to the laudable course they have 
commenced and in the accomplishment of which we heartily wish them 
success. 
The following is a notice of the proceedings of a meeting of the apotheca- 
ries of Boston and its vicinity, called at the suggestion of Dr. George Stevens 
Jones, acting Editor of the Medical and Surgical Journal. 
u In accordance with a previous notice^ a large number of the apothecaries 
of Boston and vicinity met at the house of Dr. George Stevens Jones, on Fri- 
day evening, Nov. 29th, 1850. The meeting was organized by the choice of 
Wm. B. Little, chairman, and S. R Philbrick, Secretary. 
Dr. Jones being called upon, stated the object of the meeting, viz., to con- 
sider the establishment of a Pharmaceutical College in Boston. He mention- 
ed in detail the importance of such an institution, and the advantages to be 
derived from it; he considered it entirely practicable — that it would not be 
dependent upon Boston or Massachusetts for its support, but upon New En- 
gland. Remarks were then made by Mr. Wm. Brown, Mr. Thayer of Cam- 
bridge, Mr. Spaulding, Mr. White, followed by many others, all of whom 
gave iheir full concurrence in the utility of such an institution. Mr. H. D. 
Fowle addressee 1 the meeting upon the necessity of united action in the mat- 
ter — he believed that protection to the community, to the physician and to 
the legitimate apothecary, all demanded that pharmaceutical education should 
be raised to some fixed and higher standard. 
It was then voted that a committee of five be appointed to confer with the 
apothecaries generally in Boston and vicinity, upon the subject before the 
meeting. 
Voted,. that Messrs. H. D. Fowle, A. Boyden, H. Thayer, A. Brown, and 
S. R. Philbrick, constitute that committee. 
Voted, that this committee be authorized to procure at the expense of 
the meeting, a Hall or other place for the next meeting. 
Much enthusiasm prevailed during the meeting; and but one opinion 
seemed to exist. All concurred in the belief that such an institution is ne- 
cessary, and that it will be established — that while New England leads in 
