Am  jour.  Pharm.}  Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association.  61-2 
August,  1 9 18.    J  J 
At  the  second  session,  Dr.  F.  E.  Stewart  read  the  report  of  the 
Committee  on  Patents  and  Trade-marks.  This  report  covered  the 
subject  thoroughly  and  contained  some  very  important  recommenda- 
tions for  the  guidance  of  all  those  interested  in  the  revision  of  our 
patent  laws.  It  was  referred  to  the  National  Research  Council  at 
Washington  and  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to  send  copies  of  it 
to  other  interested  associations.  The  report  was  discussed  by  Pro- 
fessor LaWall  and  Mr.  J.  W.  England. 
The  address  of  President  Knoepfel  contained  many  valuable 
recommendations.  In  part  he  said :  "  Our  nation  is  at  war  and  it  is 
my  positive  conviction  that  history  will  concede  that  ours  was  a  just 
cause,  that  we  held  high  ideals,  and  our  ambitions  were  most  worthy. 
This  mighty  struggle  has  produced  many  problems  for  all  branches 
of  pharmacy.  The  colleges  find  their  students  enlisting  or  being 
drafted,  and  few  new  ones  coming  to  replace  them.  The  manu- 
facturer finds  it  impossible  to  obtain  all  the  supplies  needed; 
many  items  being  off  the  market.  The  wholesaler,  because  of  the 
demands  of  the  government  on  the  manufacturer  and  because  of 
transportation  difficulties,  is  unable  to  keep  up  stock ;  and  the  re- 
tailer suffers  from  all  these  causes  and  many  others.  However, 
there  is  cheerful  acquiescence,  on  the  part  of  all  in  submitting  to 
any  hardships  which  the  war  has  entailed.  We  must  win  this  war ; 
and  to  this  end  we  are  willing  to  sacrifice  everything  we  have,  if  it 
be  necessary.    Our  business,  our  properties,  even  our  lives. 
It  is  only  common  sense  to  declare  that  there  should  be  no  in- 
justice in  the  division  of  the  burdens.  If  they  are  heavier  on  our 
profession  than  we  think  proper,  it  is  our  privilege  and  duty  to 
protest." 
The  following  are  some  of  his  recommendations : 
That  the  general  principle  underlying  legislation  for  curtailing 
the  sale  of  venereal  disease  nostrums  be  approved  and  that  the 
Legislative  Committee  be  directed  to  cooperate  with  the  Govern- 
ment to  secure  legislation  that  will  be  wise  and  just  in  its  restric- 
tions of  the  sale  of  nostrums  and  treatments  for  diseases  of  this 
character. 
That  the  Association  voice  its  approval  of  the  objects  of  the 
National  Pharmaceutical  Service  Association  and  coooperate  with 
this  organization  to  bring  about  a  better  condition  for  pharmacists 
in  the  Army. 
That  the  Legislative  Committee  be  instructed  to  cooperate  with 
