YoVeJ£r,wT' }        Digitalis  and  Its  Preparations.  5 1 7 
the  fact  that  foreign  manufacturers  have  enjoyed  a  rich  harvest  for 
years,  and  waxed  rich  at  our  expense  by  taking  advantage  of  these 
laws  which  give  a  patent  on  a  medicinal  or  chemical  product. 
Dr.  F.  E.  Stewart,  who  is  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Patents 
and  Trade  Marks  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  and 
who*  is  recognized  as  an  authority  on  such  matters,  was  present  at 
this  meeting  and  in,  the  course  of  the  discussion  mentioned  that  the 
last  time  he  was  at  Washington  advocating  legislation  along  these 
lines  a  United  States  Senator  said  "  that  so  long  as  the  different 
organizations  and  branches  of  the  drug  trade  came  before  Congress, 
each  with  different  ideas  and  plans,  it  would  be  impossible  for 
Congress  to  do  anything.  You  must  get  together  and  agree  as  to 
what  you  want  and  then  we  can  help  you." 
If  all  the  different  interests  of  the  drug  trade  in  this  country 
were  able  to  get  together  on  the  "  Harrison  Anti-Narcotic  Bill,"  why 
should  they  not  be  able  to  get  together  on  a  matter  which  has 
for  its  object  a  just  and  equitable  revision  of  our  Patent  Law 
as  it  affects  our  calling?  Why  not  put  this  matter  up  to  the  Na- 
tional Drug  Trade  Conference,  and  have  this  body  debate  the 
matter  thoroughly  and  formulate  some  definite  plan  that  will  be 
fair  and  just  to  the  consumers  of  medicinal  products  in  this  country, 
to  those  who  are  responsible  for  them  and  to  those  various  interests 
of  our  calling  who1  must  handle  and  distribute  them? 
Now  is  the  time  to  push  forward  this  great  work.  For  years 
and  years  this  question  has  been  under  more  or  less  discussion. 
One  could  hardly  attend  a  meeting  of  either  a  State  or  National 
Association  without  hearing  something  said  about  it.  Its  importance 
and  necessity  is  conceded  by  everyone,  so  why  not  have  the  various 
interests  act  in  concert  ?  Never  has  American  pharmacy  had  a  more 
favorable  and  opportune  time  for  the  furthering  and  carrying  out 
of  a  truly  great  piece  of  constructive  legislation. 
DIGITALIS  AND  ITS  PREPARATIONS. 
It  is  particularly  encouraging  to  those  who  advocate  a  more 
rational  study  and  intelligent  administration  of  drugs,  especially  in 
these  days  when  the  medical  profession  is  being  bombarded  on  all 
sides  with  so-called  newer  preparations  of  digitalis,  to  know  that 
the  result  of  practical  research  work  done  by  men  who  have  no  axes 
to  grind  is  available  to  help  along  such  a  propaganda. 
