330 
STATE  OF  PHARMACY  IN  GERMANY  AND  PRUSSIA. 
tell  the  names  of  and  describe  six  dried  plants  taken  at  random 
from  an  herbarium  containing  officinal  and  medicinal  plants. 
The  seventh  part  of  the  examination,  and  the  one  to  which  great  . 
importance  is  attached,  is  a  written  composition.  This  is  a  work 
of  erudition,  usually  very  extended,  upon  some  given  subject  con- 
nected with  chemistry,  and  capable  of  considerable  development, 
as  for  instance  the  history  of  cyanogen.  The  author  is  allowed 
as  much  time  as  he  may  require  for  the  completion  of  his  treatisej 
books  as  well  as  all  other  requisites  are  placed  at  his  disposal,  and 
he  is  merely  required  to  state  from  what  source  he  has  derived  his 
information.  He  thus  gives  a  kind  of  complete  treatise  upon  the 
subject,  and  in  so  far  is  obliged  to  introduce  into  it  whatever  degree 
of  learning  or  personal  experience  he  may  possess.  He  is  likewise 
required  to  prefix  to  his  treatise  a  resume  of  his  entire  career  as  a 
student  of  pharmacy  and  science  {curriculum  vitce,}  containing  a 
statement  of  every  circumstance  which  may  interest  in  his  favor 
either  the  examiners  or  the  administration. 
The  treatise,  strictly  speaking,  ought  to  remain  in  the  hands  of 
the  minister,  in  order  that  it  may  be  referred  to  under  any  circum- 
stances which  may  affect  the  pharmaceutist  who  is  its  author. 
Thus,  if  he  makes  application  for  any  privilege  or  other  favor 
which  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  government  to  confer,  this  docu- 
ment is  always  consulted  before  a  reply  is  made  to  his  application; 
it  is  a  "  concours"  which  is  in  some  sort  permanent  among  the 
pharmaceutists  of  the  country,  and  which  places  the  government 
in  a  position  of  being  always  acquainted  with  the  former  merit  and 
claims  of  each  individual. 
In  the  eighth  stage  of  the  examination,  the  above-mentioned 
treatise  is  submitted  to  the  test  of  public  discussion,  in  which  the 
examiners  take  part.  At  the  same  sitting,  which  terminates  the 
examination,  the  candidate  is  or  may  be  interrogated  on  all  branches 
of  science  connected  with  pharmaceutical  studies.  This  part  of  the 
examination  is  public,  the  rest  takes  place  in  the  presence  only  of 
three  members  of  the  board  of  examination. 
When  the  candidate  does  not  perfectly  satisfy  the  examiners  in 
any  part  of  the  above  examination,  he  is  required  to  present  him- 
self again  after  a  certain  time  determined  by  the  examiners;  when, 
on  the  contrary,  he  is  found  to  possess  the  necessary  qualification, 
he  is  admitted  without  delay,  and  receives  his  diploma  at  the  close 
of  the  examination. 
