280  Proposed  Changes  in  the  Pharmacopoeia.  {Am,june,ri8^DC 
by  proper  names  and  description,  so  that  they  may  be  identified  and' 
individualized  for  more  accurate  observation  and  research."  (p.  5.) 
A  Pharmacopoeia,  in  order  to  maintain  its  dignity  as  a  standard,, 
should  always  have  a  character  of  stability.  It  should  be  as  conserva- 
tive as  is  consistent  with  its  authority  and  its  usefulness;  adopting 
nothing  which  has  not  earned  the  well-settled  approval  of  deliberate 
experience.  "  The  long  periods  of  ten  years  doubtless  allow  the  sen- 
sational novelties  of  the  Materia  Medica  to  have  their  day,  and  die  out 
without  disturbing  the  national  standard  with  their  unsound  claims  and 
unsettled  superficial  testimony."  (p.  5.)  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  true- 
that  the  longer  the  intervals  of  undisturbed  repose,  the  greater  the 
amount  of  detail  work  involved  with  each  re-adjustment.  "A  more 
frequent  review  of  the  ground  would  so  divide  this  labor  and  time  as- 
to  give  to  the  professions  of  medicine  and  pharmacy  the  results  more- 
frequently  and  with  much  less  delay.  And  then  reaching  the  pro- 
fessions more  frequently  and  in  smaller  quantity,  such  results  would  be 
more  generally  examined  and  appreciated."  (p.  5.)  The  meetings  of 
the  Convention  should  accordingly  take  place  every  five  years. 
The  great  labor  hitherto  thrown  upon  the  executive  committee  of 
final  revision  might  be  very  considerably  lightened  if  the  medical  and 
pharmacal  organizations  throughout  the  country  would  give  the  Phar- 
macopoeia a  more  general  study,  and  subject  it  to  a  more  intelligent 
criticism.  It  is  certain  that  in  this  respect  the  pharmacists  have  shown 
a  much  more  active  interest  than  the  physicians.  On  turning  to  page 
viii  of  the  last  edition  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  ("proceedings  of  the 
convention"  of  1870),  it  is  seen  that  when  the  delegates  uwere  called 
on  for  such  contributions  as  had  been  prepared  in  furtherance  of  the 
revision,"- — six  such  reports  or  contributions  were  presented  ;  two  from 
medical  bodies,  to  wit:  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Physicians  and  the 
Missouri  Medical  College  ;  and  four  from  Colleges  of  Pharmacy,  to- 
wit:  those  of  Philadelphia,  Chicago,  New  York  and  Maryland.  That 
is  to  say,  while  the  medical  representation  in  the  convention  was  double 
that  of  the  pharmacists,  the  latter  did  at  least  double  the  work  attempted 
by  the  medicists ! 
Of  the  bodies  represented  in  the  American  Medical  Association,  it 
appears  that  not  one  felt  sufficient  interest  in  the  result  to  offer  a  sug- 
gestion or  report !  Comparing  the  rival  Associations  and  their  respective 
"proceedings,"  the  contrast  is  equally  striking.     The  American  Phar— 
