AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 
485 
foreign  formulae,  because  in  the  dispensatory  the  receipes  are  all  commingled  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  lead  to  confusion.  This  would  be  prevented,  and  a  greater 
uniformity  of  practice  created,  by  making  the  Pharmacopoeia,  with  its  clearly 
defined  recipes,  the  guide  at  the  counter,  and  in  the  laboratory,  for  the  officinal 
preparations. 
6th.  We  believe  that  the  action  of  the  Association  should  not  be  limited  to 
the  practical,  the  ethical,  and  the  educational  interests  of  the  profession, — 
should  not  stop  within  the  limits  of  self-improvement.  American  pharmaceutists 
owe  a  large  debt  to  their  brethren  in  Europe,  for  a  constant  influx  of  know- 
ledge, the  result  of  their  past  and  present  investigations  in  pharmacy  and  its  ac- 
cessory sciences  ;  and  the  time  has  fully  arrived,  when,  as  Americans,  they 
should  feel  bound  to  render  a  larger  return  than  individual  efforts  have  hereto- 
fore accomplished.  The  pharmaceutical  societies  of  Europe,  offer  annually, 
prizes  for  the  determination  of  questions  deeply  interwoven  with  the  practice  or 
science  of  pharmacy,  and  thus  elicit  valuable  accessions  to  existing  knowledge. 
We  believe  that  the  Association  is  now  competent  to  adopt  a  course  of  this 
kind,  as  an  incitement  to  dormant  ability,  and  to  awaken  laudable  ambition. 
At  first,  if  the  idea  is  adopted,  the  prizes  should  be  limited  in  value,  except  as 
symbolic  of  reward  for  honorable  and  successful  enterprise. 
To  make  the  proposition  clearer,  a  few  questions  appropriate  for  such  ob- 
jects will  be  instanced. 
a.  It  is  conceded  that  Digitalis  of  American  growth  is  less  active  and  efficient 
as  an  arterial  sedative  and  diuretic  than  that  of  English  origin.  Is  this  deterio- 
ration due  to  the  less  abundant  formation  of  digitalin;  to  its  modification;  or 
to  any  other  definable  cause  ? 
b.  What  are  the  impediments,  if  any  exist,  to  the  free  cultivation  of  Colchicum 
autumnale  in  the  United  States,  so  as  to  preserve  its  power  unimpaired;  and  is 
it  true  that  the  recent  cormus  is  more  active  than  the  same  carefully  dried,  and 
if  so,  why  ? 
c.  Do  Hyoscyamus  and  Belladonna,  grown  in  the  United  States,  contain  the 
active  principles  in  the  same  proportions  as  the  European  plants  ? 
d.  Spigelia  is  admitted  to  possess  positive  anthelmintic  power.  Does  this 
power  reside  in  a  distinct,  well-defined  principle,  capable  itself  of  producing  the 
effects  of  Spigelia  ;  if  so,  isolate  and  describe  it  ? 
e.  The  best  essay  on  extemporaneous  pharmacy  which  shall  treat  of  the  in- 
compatible combinations  most  usually  prescribed,  the  best  manner  of  avoiding 
them,  and  the  most  efficient  methods  of  proceeding  in  effecting  the  union  of  sub- 
stances that  are  physically  incompatible,  as  emulsions,  certain  liniments,  certain 
pill  ingredients,  &c. 
/.  For  the  best  essay  on  the  identification  of  volatile  oils  when  mixed,  their  pre- 
servation, and  the  actual  effects  of  light  and  air  on  them,  under  the  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances that  they  are  kept  in  the  shop,  so  as  to  decide  the  question 
whether  all  of  them,  or  only  a  part,  should  be  kept  in  the  dark,  to  prevent 
change  ? 
g.  For  an  essay  which  shall  develop  the  commercial  history  of  all  drugs  in- 
digenous to  the  United  States,  as  senega,  spigelia,  serpentaria,  &c,  as  regards 
the  manner  and  places  of  their  collection  for  the  supply  of  commerce,  the  annual 
amount  collected,  and  the  channels  through  which  they  enter  general  com- 
merce. 
h.  For  the  best  essay  on  the  construction  and  material  of  pharmaceutical  ap- 
paratus, including  that  for  evaporation,  distillation  and  solution  more  especially, 
as  regards  economy,  convenience  and  effectiveness ;  with  a  view  to  the  ordinary 
wants  of  a  thorough  pharmaceutist. 
Such  are  a  few  of  the  questions  which  might  be  offered.  The  nature  and 
value  of  the  prizes,  and  the  local  or  general  invitation  to  the  competition,  will 
require  mature  consideration,  should  the  idea  be  adopted. 
7th.  An  efficient  committee  might  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  nature, 
extent,  and  locality  of  home  adulterations,  and  propose  a  remedy. 
8th.  Whether  it  would  be  advisable  to  appoint  a  committee  to  con- 
sider the  subject  of  state  and  municipal  laws  in  relation  to  controlling  the  tiade 
