748 
Editorial. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  19 18. 
every  proposition  looking  toward  the  elevation  of  the  profession  of 
pharmacy  and  the  conscientious  merchandizing  of  drugs.  It  has 
never  even  suggested  that  the  views  of  its  contributors  should  coin- 
cide with  the  opinions  of  the  editor.  So  well  has  its  position  been 
established  that  the  foremost  research  workers  in  pharmacy  and 
allied  scientific  pursuits  and  the  recognized  leaders  in  pharmaceutic 
matters  have  appreciated  that  it  was  the  proper  medium  for  record- 
ing their  work  and  communicating  to  their  fellow  pharmacists  the 
principles  advocated. 
The  campaign  of  education  that  has  been  carried  on  for  the  rec- 
ognition of  a  real  pharmaceutical  service  in  the  United  States  Army 
has  compelled  the  military  authorities  to  give  some  consideration  to 
this  proposition.  As  the  continual  attrition  of  the  trickling  drops 
of  water  wears  away  the  adamantine  rock,  so  the  continuance  of  the 
common  sense  arguments  is  gradually  telling  upon  the  bedrock 
jealousy  and  prejudice  that  has  heretofore  prevented  the  establish- 
ment of  an  organized  pharmaceutical  corps  as  an  efficient  branch  of 
the  U.  S.  Army  Medical  Service. 
As  the  world  war  progressed  evidence  has  not  been  lacking  that 
the  pharmaceutical  service  in  the  Army  was  inadequate  and  unsatis- 
factory, and  that  the  education  and  training  of  the  medical  officers 
left  out  much  that  was  essential  to  the  proper  purveying  of  army 
medical  supplies.  To  overcome  in  part  the  latter  deficiency,  a  few 
pharmaceutically  trained  men  were  commissioned  as  "  supply  offi- 
cers," and  Surgeon-General  Gorgas  authorized  a  "  make  shift " — 
the  education  of  a  number  of  men  from  the  ranks  for  the  supply 
and  accounting  service.  Several  training  schools  for  the  medical 
supply  service  were  organized  and  men  who,  as  a  rule,  had  no 
knowledge  whatever  of  drugs  and  medical  supplies  were  detailed 
for  a  course  of  training  to  fit  them  in  the  shortest  time  possible  for 
the  accounting,  storing  and  distribution  of  the  army  medical  sup- 
plies, and  commissions  were  authorized  for  some  of  these,  who  were 
thus  performing  only  a  portion  of  the  duties  that  should  properly  be 
assigned  to  members  of  an  organized  pharmaceutical  service. 
A  further  indication  of  the  awakening  of  interest  in  the  War  De- 
partment is  shown  in  the  possibility  of  utilizing  schools  of  pharmacy 
and  pharmacy  students  for  the  organization  of  units  of  the  Students' 
Army  Training  Corps.  In  this  connection  the  following  circular 
letter  has  been  issued : 
