.EDITORIAL. 
95 
Journal oi Pharmacy, exhibiting as it does, a fair expose of the dis- 
coveries and improvements in Pharmacy, Chemistry, and the col- 
lateral sciences, which have occurred during the twenty-one years of its 
existence, the Publishing Committee have for some time past enter- 
tained the idea of collating and publishing a general index to the 
work, which will greatly facilitate reference to the many valuable 
papers which embellish its pages, and which are often overlooked by 
essay writers on similar subjects, from the impediments offered by 
the necessity of referring to 21 indexes. During the past year Alfred 
B. Taylor, our worthy Inspector of Drugs, having felt this inconveni- 
ence in the investigations incident to his official duties, engaged him- 
self in the preparation of a general index for his own convenience^ 
and the Committee have embraced his liberal offer of preparing the 
index for the press. It is presumed that the work will extend to 60 
octavo pages, and it is proposed to publish it gratuitously to subscri- 
bers in three parts, to be issued with the April, July, and October 
numbers of the Journal. It is presumed that after the issue of the 
last part, those receiving it, will have them bound together for preser- 
vation, in a separate volume, or with one of the volumes of the 
Journal. 
Membership in the Philadelphia College ov Pharmacy. — By 
reference to the minutes of the College at page 90 our readers will 
observe that a very important change has occurred in the conditions 
required by the By-laws of the Institution, of those who apply for 
membership. Heretofore the applicant had only to be recommended 
by three members of the College to the Board, be of good moral 
character, and engaged in business, to be eligible. No examination 
was made of his qualifications, if not a graduate, and on election he 
received the following certificate: "The Philadelphia College of 
Pharmacy, instituted to promote and encourage a knowledge of that 
science, and to guard against abuses in the preparation and sale of 
medicines, reposing confidence in the knowledge, skill, and integrity 
of A ■ B — , have associated him as a resident member thereof," 
&c. It must be apparent that the language of this certificate is 
almost as strong as that of the diploma given to graduates, and ex- 
pressed in reference to an individual engaged in business, will have 
more influence with the public at large than the latter. The injustice 
of this to those young men whose laudable ambition has led them to 
acquire or seek the diploma, is too glaring 10 need explanation, and 
the fact has been one cause of avoiding the trouble of graduation by 
a number of the students of our School. 
