268  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  {^jiSfifi?.8""11 
The  sections,  especially,  should  be  given  much  latitude,  their  wishes 
respected,  and  they  should  be  vouchsafed  the  greatest  possible 
amount  of  encouragement. 
There  seems  little  need  for  exacting  detail,  it  may  be  wondered 
indeed  if  it  were  ever  necessary  to  expressly  say  "  the  President 
shall  take  the  chair  at  the  proper  time."  It  is  certainly  not  so  in 
this  day  and  generation.  Undoubtedly  there  is  need  for  more  detail 
than  has  been  offered  in  the  draft  attached,  but  there  is  certainly  no 
need  for  all  that  now  appears  in  the  by-laws. 
Regarding  the  qualifications  for  membership,  I  have,  purposely, 
made  no  suggestions,  fearing  my  ideas  are  too  radical  for  the  state 
of  pharmacy  as  we  see  it,  yet,  if  we  do  not  make  the  requirements 
for  membership  high  enough  to  make  it  honorable,  few  will  strive 
to  attain  it. 
Finally,  it  appears  to  me  to  be  very  desirable  and  of  great  import, 
ance  to  have  the  State  associations  attached  to  the  A.Ph.A.,  and  we 
must,  by  all  means,  try  to  keep  in  close  and  cordial  touch  with  the 
American  Conference  of  Pharmaceutical  Faculties  and  with  the 
National  Association  of  Boards  of  Pharmacy.  All  of  these  must 
become  veritable  parts  of  the  Association  with  active  representatives 
in  its  Council,  and  to  this  end  must  we  labor  and  to  this  end  must 
we  make  ample  sacrifice. 
It  is  with  sincere  humility  and  earnest  apologies  that  I  submit  the 
following  suggestions : — 
AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION. 
PREAMBLE. 
Whereas,  The  advancement  of  pharmaceutical  knowledge  and  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  professional  character  of  Apothecaries  and  Druggists  throughout 
the  United  States  are  dear  to  us  in  common  with  all  well-disposed  pharma- 
ceutists ;  and,  whereas,  a  large  portion  of  those  in  whose  hands  the  practice  of 
pharmacy  now  exists,  are  not  properly  qualified  for  the  responsible  offices  it 
involves,  chiefly  by  reason  of  the  many  difficulties  that  impede  the  acquirement 
of  a  correct  knowledge  of  their  business  : — 
Therefore,  We,  the  members  of  a  Convention  now  met  at  Philadelphia  (Sep- 
tember, 1852),  composed  of  Apothecaries  and  Druggists  from  different  sections 
of  the  Union,  and  from  all  the  Colleges  and  Societies  therein  existing,  with  the 
object  of  deliberating  on  the  condition  of  our  profession,  do  hereby  resolve  and 
constitute  ourselves  into  a  permanent  Association,  to  meet  annually,  at  such 
times  and  places  as  may  hereafter  be  determined,  for  more  effectually  accom- 
plishing the  objects  for  which  we  are  now  assembled,  and  do  now  adopt  the 
following 
