Amjine"'i87h7!rm  1  Proposed  Changes  in  the  Pharmacopoeia.  277 
only  to  secure  for  their  cherished  work  the  excellences  of  foreign  Phar- 
macopoeias and  to  exclude  their  defects.  How  far  their  scrupulous- 
labors  were  successful,  it  is  refreshing  to  learn  from  the  unquestionable 
evidence  of  one  whom  no  schemes  of  reformation  had  bewildered. 
In  his  elaborate  report  on  this  work,  presented  to  the  American  Phar- 
maceutical Association  in  1869,  Dr.  Squibb  has  offered  his  unsuspected 
testimony  "  that  as  it  stands  to-day  it  is  equal  with  any  Pharmacopoeia 
of  the  world  Its  merits  have  spoken  for  themselves,  and  it 
neither  needs  nor  admits  of  laudation,  if  we  have  a  proper  respect  for 
its  dignity  and  authority."  1 
.  To  the  illustrious  authors  of  the  Dispensatory,  however,  the  profes- 
sions of  medicine  and  of  pharmacy  owe  an  additional  debt,  but  poorly 
paid  by  any  emoluments  derived  from  their  justly  celebrated  work. 
Especially  to  its  influence  is  largely  due  the  elevation  of  Pharmacy  in 
this  country  to  the  scientific  standing  of  a  profession. 
It  is  unquestionably  true,  therefore,  that  "this  work  of  revision  has 
always  been  done  gratuitously."  (p.  4.)  And  a  "  plan  which  has 
worked  well  for  more  than  fifty  years  is  entitled  to  so  much  respect 
that  it  becomes  a  matter  of  grave  doubt  as  to  whether  it  can  be  wisely 
disturbed."  (p.  4.) 
It  is  maintained,  however,  that  the  success  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
u  has  depended  less  on  the  plan  than  on  the  men  who  originated  it  and 
carried  it  out."  We  believe,  on  the  contrary,  that  its  success  has 
depended  mainly  on  the  excellence  of  its  plan  ;  and  we  further  venture 
the  opinion  that  a  commission  of  ordinarily  good  ability,  and  of  ordi- 
narily good  training,  if  large  enough  ct  to  give  that  diversity  of  char- 
acter, of  knowledge,  and  of  experience  whose  average  makes  up  sound 
judgment,"  will,  in  the  execution  of  a  judicious  plan,  produce  a  much 
more  valuable  standard  for  professional  guidance,  than  a  council  of 
exceptional  talent  and  knowledge  can  do  on  any  imperfect  or  inadequate 
system. 
Notwithstanding  that  the  last  revision  (of  1870)  has,  in  Dr.  Squibb's 
fancy,  ct  lost  so  much  ground  as  to  make  some  movement  of  reform 
imperative,"  (p.  39.)  he  charitably  concludes  that  "  the  present  Phar- 
macopoeia is  as  good  as  could  be  justly  expected,  and  that  its  defects 
may  be  in  a  great  measure  chargeable  to  an  attempt  to  get  important 
'Proceedings  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  1869,  vol.  xvii,  p.  34^ 
