572 
EDITORIAL. 
costly  affair  of  the  kind  that  has  yet  attended  the  progress  of  our  Body. 
Although  an  invited  guest,  we  were  not  present,  being,  as  our  friends 
know,  opposed  to  such  demonstrations,  and,  therefore,  better  absent.  It  is 
a  thoroughly  Anglo-Saxon  custom — that  of  eating  and  drinking  an  asso- 
ciation into  popularity  and  notoriety— and  we  see  but  little  hope  of  any 
change  in  a  custom  that  seems  as  natural  to  the  Anglo-American,  as  if  an 
indigenous  production.  But  whilst  bearing  testimony  against  this  spe- 
ciality, we  are  not  disposed  to  find  fault  with  those  who  see  in  these  occa- 
sions opportunities  for  the  culture  of  friendly  and  business  relations,  and 
the  initiation  of  friendships  which  bear  good  fruits  ;  it  is  more  the  manner 
than  the  thing — the  accompaniments  than  the  thing  itself ;  and  when 
stripped  of  vinic  demonstrations  and  alcoholic  effusions,  "annual  dinners," 
if  kept  within  the  bounds  of  moderation,  with  less  show  and  more  sub- 
stance, may  really  be  the  means  of  promoting  friendship  and  good  fellow- 
ship among  the  members ;  and  to  prove  that  we  harbor  no  ill  feeling 
against  our  New  York  friends,  we  give  below  the  introductory  speech  of 
our  worthy  ex-president,  John  Meakim,  who  was  chairman  on  the  occa- 
sion. 
Gentlemen  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association : 
The  character  of  his  studies  and  the  nature  of  his  duties,  have  a  great 
tendency  to  seclude  the  Pharmaceutist  from  the  social  festivities  of  Ms 
fellow  men;  and  such  is  the  effect  of  habit  upon  the  mind,  that  his  be- 
comes imbued,  almost,  with  the  idea  of  a  positive  necessity  for  such  seclu- 
sion. Growing  out  of  this  state  of  feeling,  a  portion  of  our  respected 
associates  are  averse  to  any  allotment  of  time  for  the  social  discussion  of 
subjects  not  directly  identified  with  Pharmacy.  But  surely  one  evening 
of  the  year  is  not  too  prodigal  an  allotment,  in  which  we  may  cast  aside 
the  daily  thoughts  and  cares  of  our  vocation  to  meet  our  brethren  at  the 
social  board  for  an  interchange  of  kindly  sentiments.  And  what  more 
fitting  season  than  this,  when  the  votaries  to  Pharmacy  assemble  from 
the  snow-capped  north  and  the  sunny  south,  from  the  thriving  east  and 
the  fertile  west,  with  their  annual  gatherings  of  useful  thoughts  and  facts, 
as  contributions  to  the  store  of  knowledge  in  our  Association,  and  which 
tend  to  bind  us  and  our  glorious  Union  to  a  common  cause.  For,  truly, 
as  Pharmaceutists,  we  have  no  division  between  North  and  South.  How- 
ever, gentlemen,  entertaining  a  high  regard  for  respected  minorities,  we 
have  endeavored  that  our  social  intercourse  on  this  occasion  shall  partake 
of  a  spirit  of  investigation,  and  with  that  view  we  would  invite  your  atten- 
tion to  an  examination  into  the  science  of  Gastronomy ;  in  its  relations 
to  the  Hygienic  art,  with  which  that  of  Pharmacy  is  so  closely  connected. 
The  culture  of  the  grape,  and  the  production  of  native  wines,  are  also 
eliciting  a  general  interest;  and  are,  especially  appropriate  for  your 
earnest  and  serious  consideration  at  this  time.  We  submit  for  compari- 
son, samples  of  foreign  and  native,  said  to  be  strictly  pure  and  for  medi- 
cinal use  only.  And  it  is  our  hope,  gentlemen,  to  use  the  language  of  an 
early  and  zealous  friend  of  the  Association,  "that  each  will  prove  to  be 
good  of  its  kind  ;"  and  also  that  when  we  come  to  a  final  vote  on  them 
we  shall  be  able  to  rise  to  a  man  in  the  affirmative. 
With  these  views,  fellow-members  and  honored  guests,  we  have  invited 
you  to  partake  with  us  of  this  social  repast.    I  am  proud,  as  the  vocal 
