^iSI^'if??™' }  'Lessens  from  the  Hearing  on  the  Edmonds  Bill.  339 
accommodation,  and  a  place  where  drugs  and  many  things  unrelated 
thereto  are  sold.  The  scientific  nature  of  the  business  is  in  the  back- 
ground and  is  therefore  not  impressed  upon  the  layman.  Congress 
consists  essentially  of  laymen,  who  in  turn  represent  the  large 
group  of  people  having  the  foregoing  opinion  regarding  the  druggist 
and  pharmacy. 
What,  then,  could  be  expected  from  the  Committee  on  Military 
Affairs  or  Congress  itself  excepting  an  attitude  such  as  was  dis- 
played ? 
The  remedy  is  to  educate  the  public  and  its  representatives  in 
Congress  to  the  far-reaching  possibilities  of  pharmacy  and  the  work 
which  the  pharmacist  can  do.  Since  large  bodies  move  slowly,  it 
takes  a  long  while  to  accomplish  in  a  short  time  something  that  has 
been  neglected  for  decades.  However,  the  time  is  opportune  and 
our  propaganda  work  must  continue,  and  continue  with  increased 
rather  than  diminished  vigor. 
2.  It  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  if  a  pharmaceutical  corps  were 
desired  merely  to  give  the  pharmacist  commissioned  rank,  little  or 
no  support  could  be  expected  for  the  measure.  If  the  Edmonds  Bill 
is  passed  it  will  be  because  Congress  has  been  convinced  that  the 
men  in  the  army  are  not  now  receiving  the  kind  of  pharmaceutical 
service  they  deserve.  All  of  our  propaganda  work  must,  therefore, 
eliminate  the  selfish  factor,  forgetting  that  the  pharmacist  deserves 
a  commission,  and  working  on  the  basis  that  the  men  in  the  service 
deserve  full  utilization  of  the  ability  of  the  pharmacist  in  order  to 
increase  their  chances  of  being  returned  from  the  army  to  civil  life 
unharmed. 
3.  We  must  allay  the  fears  of  those  connected  with  the  medical 
department,  as  well  as  those  who  are  providing  army  legislation, 
that  pharmacists  expect  to  antagonize  the  medical  officers  of  the 
army  or  attempt  sweeping  reforms  which  would  materially  upset  the 
service.  We  must  emphasize  the  fact  that  a  pharmaceutical  corps 
will  fit  in  with  the  present  army  scheme  and  increase  the  efficiency 
of  the  medical  department  without  upsetting  the  organization.  This 
is  a  difficult  task,  but  if  it  is  handled  tactfully  it  can  be  accomplished. 
There  is  no  desire  on  the  part  of  the  pharmacist  to  get  in  and 
destroy ;  his  only  desire  is  to  be  given  an  opportunity  to  cooperate. 
Bearing  these  lessons  in  mind,  the  course  for  pharmaceutical  as- 
sociations and  individuals  to  follow  is  very  plain.  There  should  be 
coordination  and  continued  propaganda,  and  whatever  pressure  is 
