484 
PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 
enough  to  get  a  general  idea  of  the  condition  of  our  art  there ;  the  large  propor- 
tion of  agricultural  population,  and  the  few  large  towns  and  cities  that  exist, 
give  a  more  uniform  cast  to  the  pharmaceutical  peculiarities  of  that  region.  The 
untimely  death  of  our  associate,  Mr.  C.  L.  Bache,  of  San  Francisco,  deprived 
us  of  an  expected  report  on  the  state  of  Pharmacy  in  California;  yet,  owing  to 
the  thoughtfulness  of  Mr.  Gustavus  L.  Simmons,  of  Sacramento,  in  that  State, 
we  are  enabled  to  give  a  partial  account  of  it,  which  will  be  found,  with  the 
other  information,  in  the  document  marked  H. 
The  Executive  Committee,  although  not  specially  so  instructed,  have  deemed 
it  their  province  to  bring  forward  such  suggestions,  regarding  subjects  properly 
claiming  the  consideration  of  the  Association  that  have  not  been  specially  re- 
ferred to  Committees,  as  have  presented  themselves  in  the  course  of  their  official 
duty,  and  now  offer  the  following  propositions,  viz  : 
1st.  To  increase  the  future  usefulness  of  the  Association,  it  is  proposed  that 
a  system  of  local  secretaryships  be  adopted,  which  in  the  beginning  may  be 
limited  to  the  larger  cities  and  chief  towns,  and  so  distributed  over  the  several 
States,  as  to  enable  the  Corresponding  Secretary  and  the  Executive  Committee 
to  obtain  and  distribute  information  in  an  effectual  manner.  At  first,  it  is  pro- 
posed to  appoint  the  local  secretaries  from  among  pharmaceutists  known  to 
reside  in  the  localities  chosen  ;  and  afterwards,  if  more  agreeable  to  the  body 
at  large,  in  each  place,  the  name  of  a  person  for  secretary  may  be  suggested  by 
his  brethren  as  their  medium  of  communication,  to  be  confirmed  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Association.  We  believe  that  there  are  qualified  persons  who  have  the 
good  of  the  profession  at  heart  in  most  of  the  cities,  and  that  such  an  organiza- 
tion would  greatly  increase  the  power  of  the  Association  in  carrying  out  its  dis- 
interested measures  for  the  advancement  of  pharmacy. 
2d.  It  is  recommended  that  the  collection  and  arrangement  of  the  Statistics  of 
Pharmacy  in  the  United  States,  be  commitled  to  a  special  committee,  properly 
authorized  to  act  for  the  Association,  in  such  manner  as  shall  most  effectually 
and  speedily  obtain  a  list  of  the  reputable  druggists  and  pharmaceutists  in  each 
place  ;  ascertain  the  degree  to  which  medicine  and  pharmacy  are  separated  ;  the 
condition  of  dispensing  pharmacy;  the  condition  and  progress  of  preparative  or 
manufacturing  pharmacy;  the  extent  to  which  the  apprenticeship  system  pre- 
vails, and  whether  any  attention  is  given  to  furnish  apprentices  with  proper 
books  for  the  study  of  their  business ;  and  finally,  whether  there  is  any  disposi- 
tion to  organize  local  societies. 
3d.  It  is  suggested  that  the  subject  of  pharmaceutical  education  be  entrusted  to 
a  special  committee  at  the  commencement  of  the  session,  that  they  may  have  time 
to  prepare  an  address  to  the  pharmaceutists  of  the  whole  country,  which  shall 
enter  into  the  practical  difficulties  which  oppose  the  attainment  of  pharmaceutic 
knowledge  by  assistants  and  apprentices,  point  them  out,  and  encourage  the 
brethren  to  extend  reasonable  aid  to  those  in  their  service,  both  by  personal  in- 
terest, and  by  providing  books  and  the  opportunity  to  use  them  ; — and  also  shall 
recommend  attention  to  the  proper  preparatory  education  and  mental  fitness  of 
apprentices  for  the  responsible  offices  involved  in  their  duties. 
4th.  It  is  proposed  that  the  idea  of  universally  adopting  a  single  definite  name, 
whkh  shall  indicate  the  qualification  for  preparing  and  dispensing  drugs  and 
medicines,  as  possessed  by  thorough-bred  chemists  and  druggists,  or  apothe- 
caries, be  considered,  and  its  propriety  decided  on.  The  word  "  Physician"  in- 
dicates a  person  educated  to  practice  medicine  in  all  its  branches;  why  should 
not  "  Pharmacian"  define  a  qualified  practitioner  of  pharmacy? 
5th.  It  is  recommended  that  the  Association  shall  earnestly  advocate  the  ex- 
tensive issue  of  a  cheap  and  accurate  edition  of  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia: 
say  at  the  price  of  seventy-five  cents  or  one  dollar.  Of  the  large  number  of 
persons  who,  in  this  country,  lay  claim  to  the  names  of  apothecaries  and  phy- 
sicians, a  great  proportion  have  never  seen  the  Pharmacopoeia  as  a  separate  and 
distinct  work,  a  fact  easily  understood,  when  it  is  stated  that  but  1500  copies  are 
published  in  ten  years  1  In  many  localities  the  U.  S.  Dispensatory  is  considered 
to  be  the  Pharmacopoeia.  Physicians  are  constantly  prescribing  medicines 
under  unofficinal  names,  and  apothecaries  making  officinal  preparations  by 
