284 
Editorial, 
JAm.  Jour.  Phasm. 
(     June  1,  1872. 
ing  of  the  charters  of  the  two  bogus  doctor  factories  by  the  Pennsylvania  Leg- 
islature is  hailed  in  Europe  with  the  same  satisfaction  as  in  this  country. 
"  On  Tuesday,  May  7th,  an  appeal  was  argued  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer 
on  behalf  of  Thomas  Andrews,  of  Shrewsbury,  against  a  conviction  of  the 
magistrates  of  that  town  for  improperly  using  the  letters  M.  D.  after  his  name 
in  accounts  rendered.  The  appellant  produced  a  diploma  of  the  University  of 
Philadelphia,  United  States,  of  the  year  1870,  but  did  not  appear  even  to  have 
visited  the  place  or  been  examined  before  a  qualified  tribunal. 
"Their  Lordships  were  all  of  the  opinion  that  the  conviction  should  be  af- 
firmed, and  dismissed  the  appeal  with  costs. 
41  Baron  Martin  expressed  his  satisfaction  that  measures  were  being  takej. 
by  the  Legislatures  in  America  to  suppress  this  issue  of  spurious  degrees  by 
the  University  of  Philadelphia." 
Protection  Against  Accidental  Poisoning. — The  College  of  Physicians  of 
Philadelphia  adopted  the  subjoined  preamble  and  resolution,  and  have  com- 
municated the  same  to  the  American  Medical  Association,  lately  in  session  in 
this  city,  by  which  body  they  have  likewise  been  adopted.  They  have  also 
been  communicated  to  several  pharmaceutical  societies  with  the  request  to 
consider  them  : 
11  Whereas  cases  of  accidental  poisoning  and  of  the  internal  administration 
of  medicines  intended  only  for  external  use  are  so  frequent ;  and — 
"  Whereas  every  possible  safeguard  should  be  employed  to  prevent  such  ac- 
cidents ;  therefore 
"  Resolved,  That  it  is  recommended  to  all  druggisis  to  place  all  external 
remedies  in  bottles  not  only  colored,  so  as  to  appeal  to  the  eye,  but  also  rough 
upon  one  side,  so  that  by  the  sense  of  touch  no  mistake  shall  be  possible,  even 
in  the  dark  ;  and  that  all  bottles  containing  poisons  should  not  only  be  labelled 
1  poison,'  but  also  with  another  label  indicating  the  most  efficient  and  conve- 
nient antidote." 
The  Exhibition  at  the  Twenty-third  Annual  Meeting  of  the  American 
Medical  Association  has  been  quite  successful  and  surpassed  the  expectation 
of  most  members.  Five  large  rooms  in  the  hall  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  of 
Philadelphia,  were  filled  with  philosophical,  obstetrical  and  surgical  instru- 
ments and  apparatus,  anatomical  and  pathological  specimens  and  models,  books, 
medicinal  plants,  crude  drugs,  chemical  and  pharmaceutical  preparations  and 
apparatus.  The  Committee  on  exhibition  and  the  subcommittees  deserve 
great  credit  for  their  exertions. 
Quack  medicines  were,  of  course,  excluded  ;  but  in  order  to  exclude  also  the 
numerous  elixirs  and  similar  preparations  of  an  order  closely  related  to  quack- 
ery, a  resolution  had  been  adopted  prohibiting  the  exhibition  of  all  unofficinal 
preparations,  unless  made  by  a  formula  published  in  some  scientific  journal,  or 
by  a  process  fully  made  known. 
If  these  exhibitions,  in  connection  with  the  annual  meetings  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  are  continued,  we  expect  that  the  members  will  feel  the 
interest  increasing,  and  derive  a  benefit  similar  to  that  experienced  by  the 
members  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  from  the  exhibitions  at 
their  annual  meetings. 
