Am.  Joiir.  Pharm. ) 
April,  1882.  / 
Editorial. 
205 
Following  this  came  the  election  of  officers,  which  resulted  as  follows : 
President,  J.  B.  Dill ;  Vice  Presidents— J.  N.  Hurty,  H.  C.  Pomeroy  ; 
Recording  Secretary,  Frank  H.  Carter;  Corresponding  Secretary,  John 
A.  Lambert;  Treasurer,  Henry  Kielhorn;  Executive  Committee— George 
W.  Sloan,  F.  A.  Bryan,  C.  H.  Schad. 
Amotion  made  by  Mr.  Sloan  to  select  a  subject  for  general  discussion  at 
the  next  meeting,  March  29th,  was  carried,  and  "  Emulsions"  was  selected. 
EDITORIAL  DEPARTMENT. 
Local  and  State  Pharmaceutical  Associations.— At  the  last 
meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association  a  report  brought 
forward  by  the  Trade  Association  of  Philadelphia  Druggists  was  the  cause 
of  the  recommendation  to  form  County  Societies.  We  are  i^leased  to  be 
able  to  report  in  this  number  the  organization,  under  this  recommenda- 
tion of  the  first  County  Pharmaceutical  Association  outside  of  Philadel- 
phia, that  of  Lancaster.  A  number  of  years  ago  a  similar  society  was  in 
existence  in  Allegheny  county,  from  which  the  Pittsburg  College  of  Phar- 
macy originated.  The  trade  interests,  however,  we  believe,  are  best  taken 
care  of  by  organizations  having  that  object  esj^ecially  in  view,  and  we 
hope  that  the  example  of  Lancaster  county  may  soon  be  followed  by  other 
localities. 
The  Indianapolis  Pharmaceutical  Association,  the  organization  of  which 
is  reported  in  the  present  number,  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  forerunner  of  an 
association  embracing  the  pharmacists  and  druggists  of  the  State  of  Indi- 
ana, and  which  it  is  contemplated  to  organize  in  Indianapolis  May  9th. 
There  being  much  excellent  material  in  that  State,  a  successfal  organiza- 
tion and  efficient  association  may  be  expected,  and  since  quite  recently  a 
State  association  was  formed  in  Virginia  there  will  be  few  States  left  in 
which  no  State  Pharmaceutical  Association  exists,  or  where  it  has  been 
allowed  to  become  dormant. 
Nostrums  and  Household  Remedies.— We  have  received  the  follow- 
ing communication  : 
As  I  see  from  the  "American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,"  1882,  p.  93,  you 
seem  to  think  that  people  could  in  a  great  measure  be  influenced  in  their 
indiscriminate  employment  of  secret  medicines  (whether  patent  or  propri- 
etary) by  being  informed  of  their  composition,  etc.  Will  you  allow  me  to 
dissent  from  you  ? 
People  here  in  the  United  States  (and,  it  seems,  largely  in  Europe,  too) 
are  accustomed  to  doctor  themslves,  and  prefer,  naturally,  already  put-up 
medicines,  stated  by  somebody — immaterial  who — to  be  good  for  their  sup- 
posed ailments.  They  feel  bound  to  get  them,  they  are  not  used  to  be 
without  them — they  must  have  them!  Now,  I  contend  that  mere  telling 
and  proving  to  them  that  all  i)atent  medicines  are  frauds  upon  tlieir  liealth 
and  pocket,  and  likely  to  produce  great  mischief,  and  ail  tliat— will  be 
looked  upon  with  suspicion,  as  dictated  by  self-interest,  one  way  or  the 
other.    You  will  need  something  stronger,  more  tangible. 
