154  Chicago  College  of  Pharmacy.  {A%i0rch;Ymrm' 
fronted  the  revisers  in  1890.  He  then  dwelt  very  briefly  on  the  more  import- 
ant suggestions  that  had  been  made  since  the  last  revision,  and  will  probably 
come  before  the  Convention,  and  indicated  some  of  the  changes  in  the  Pharma- 
copoeia that  are  likely  to  be  made. 
Following  this  address,  Dr.  J.  A.  Patten,  delegate  to  the  Convention  from 
Rush  Medical  College,  read  a  paper  upon  1  ( The  Revision  of  the  Pharmacopoeia 
from  a  Medical  Point  of  View."  The  doctor  presented  suggestions  collated 
from  several  sources  and  representing  the  opinions  of  quite  a  large  number  of 
physicians  concerning  the  popularizing  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  among  medical 
practitioners.  Chief  among  these  suggestions  were  :  Simplification  and  con- 
densation of  the  text  through  the  reduction  in  the  number  of  classes  of  reme- 
dies and  the  omission  of  many  preparations;  for  example,  it  was  suggested 
that  there  be  but  one  solid  and  one  liquid  preparation  of  each  vegetable 
drug  ;  the  inclusion  of  a  table  of  doses,  either  in  the  text  or  the  appendix ; 
insertion  of  information  concerning  new  remedies,  possibly  even  to  the  extent 
of  issuing  an  annual  supplement  bringing  such  information  up  to  date ; 
standardization  of  galenicals,  chemically  and  perhaps  physiologically.  The 
author  disclaimed  responsibility  for  some  of  these  suggestions  and  stated  that 
he  would  not  at  this  time  commit  himself  as  favoring  them,  but  presented 
them  as  suggestions  emanating  from  medical  men. 
In  the  discussion  which  followed  it  was  pointed  out  that  it  was  not  so  much 
the  desire  of  the  framers  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  to  have  physicians  actually 
possess  the  work  as  it  is  to  bring  before  them,  by  introduction  into  the  Pharma- 
copoeia, and  from  thence  through  the  dispensatories  and  works  on  materia 
medica,  such -drugs  and  pharmaceuticals  as  are  likely  to  prove  of  value  in  medi- 
cal practice. 
The  papers  referred  to  above,  being  of  general  character,  necessarily  intro- 
duced many  important  topics,  time  for  discussion  of  which  could  not  be 
allowed.  Several  of  these  topics  are  so  important  that  later  meetings  will  be 
devoted  entirely  to  them.  One  of  these,  "Standardization,"  will  be  the  subject 
for  discussion  at  the  next  meeting,  which  will  be  held  at  the  same  place  on 
Wednesday  evening,  February  21st. 
Universities  and  Origin ai.  Investigation. — Thomas  D wight  believes 
it  is  not  the  duty  of  universities  to  urge,  much  less  to  force,  original  investiga- 
tions on  students.  It  should  be  on  hand  for  those  whose  zeal  is  so  great  that  it 
will  take  no  denial.  He  would  not  give  more  prizes,  but  of  scholarships  for 
deserving  men  we  can  hardly  have  too  many.  As  to  the  encouragement  and 
support  of  investigation  in  its  faculty,  it  is  the  primary  object  of  the  professor 
to  teach,  but  there  are  cases  where  it  is  necessary  for  his  reputation  and  influ- 
ence to  do  some  original  work,  and  the  university  should  assist,  especially  in 
the  financial  needs  of  this.  The  best  plan  would  be  to  place  a  sum  in  the  hands 
of  the  professor  at  the  head  of  each  scientific  department,  to  be  spent  for  the 
good  of  that  department,  including  publications.  If  the  individual  lacks  dis- 
cretion in  the  use  of  this  fund,  a  check  to  the  system  would  naturally  follow. — 
Jour.  Am.  Med.  Assocn.,  1900,  p.  157. 
