440 
PHARMACY  IN  GERMANY  AND  PRUSSIA. 
makes  the  greatest  reduction  is  chosen,  but  sometimes  they  are 
furnished  successively  by  the  several  pharmaceutists  of  the  town, 
and  under  the  same  conditions. 
In  the  preparation  of  these  medicines  the  legal  pharmacopoeia 
is  generally  followed ;  however,  many  hospitals  and  charitable 
institutions  have  particular  formulae ;  thus,  for  instance,  there  is 
a  pharmacopoeia  for  the  paupers  of  Mayence,  entitled,  "  Formu- 
lare  Medicum  pro  pauperi  Maguntinis." 
Independently  of  these  necessary  and  appropriate  reductions, 
pharmaceutists  are  frequently  required  to  make  a  reduction  in 
their  charge  for  medicines,  upon  the  simple  suggestion  of  the 
physician ;  who,  for  that  purpose,  writes  upon  the  prescription, 
"PP.,  pro  pauperi." 
RESUME. 
It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  account  that  Pharmacy  in  Ger- 
many is  regulated  by  an  essentially  preventive  legislation ;  it 
constitutes  a  species  of  organized  public  service,  subject  to  the 
supervision  of  a  minister  and  a  special  administrative  body,  who 
do  not  for  an  instant  lose  sight  of  the  interests  of  the  public  in 
everything  that  relates  to  the  preparation  and  sale  of  medicines. 
The  two  most  important  features  of  this  organization,  are,  the 
limitation  of  the  number  of  pharmacies,  and  the  establishment 
of  a  fixed  scale  of  prices  for  medicines.  It  is  these  two  provi- 
visions,  the  latter  of  which  is  in  truth  but  a  consequence  of  the 
former,  that  peculiarly  distinguish  the  Prussian  pharmaceutical 
law  from  that  of  France. 
The  limitation  of  the  number  of  pharmacies  as  it  exists  in 
Prussia,  is  not  absolute.  The  government  no  longer  grants  ex- 
clusive privileges  to  pharmaceutists,  but  merely  concessions, 
reserving  at  the  same  time  the  right  of  increasing  their  number 
to  such  an  extent  as  the  necessities  of  the  population  may  de- 
mand. 
Hitherto  the  government  have  exercised  this  right  with 
extreme  reserve,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  lead  to  the  opinion 
that  it  is  not  their  intention  to  increase  the  number  of  pharma- 
cies. Moreover,  as  public  opinion  and  custom  are  in  favor  of 
this  limitation,  things  may  remain  for  a  long  time  in  their  pre- 
sent condition ;  but  this  statu  quo  is  very  probably  the  result  of 
