S2 
MINUTES OF THE COLLEGE- 
same moment, they are conscious may never reach completion. 
Such a condition, however, as regards the work they recom- 
mend, is altogether hypothetic, as they have ascertained by 
personal inquiry that a committee of the number proposed 
can be readily selected from the College, who will zealously 
and industriously discharge the duty to which they will be 
assigned; and that efficient additional co-operation may be 
relied upon, to be derived from the service of those whose 
avocations will not permit a constant devotion to the subject, 
as well as from the valuable inquiries and manipulations of 
such of our alumni, as have not yet been associated with us 
as members. The Committee have, in a former part of this 
report, indicated their confidence in the professional ability 
possessed by the College for the faithful prosecution of the 
work, and they are here gratified to add their conviction that 
laborers are not wanting to ensure its able execution. They 
find that the College will be enabled to call to its service, the 
more mature councils of experienced^ as well as the vigor and 
alacrity of younger minds, and that every desirable element 
can thus be blended in the discharge of this duty. Delicacy 
forbids that they should here enter more minutely into this 
subject ; they, therefore, have prepared, and will submit, for 
the aid of the appointing power, a list of those who may be 
relied upon as capable and ready to perform the labor, and 
from whom a selection may be made. 
The Committee cannot take leave of the inquiry proposed 
for them without adding a few words on the great importance 
of the main subject, the preparation of a National Pharma- 
copoeia, possessing the necessary character to ensure uniformi- 
ty by its general adoption. Such a work is of vast importance 
to society, and indispensable for a united understanding be- 
tween the two professions for whose use it is expressly designed: 
a lamented want of uniformity in the preparations and nomen- 
clature exists throughout our country, indeed our own com- 
munity, and every effort should be made to remove this de- 
fect. It can only be accomplished by some sacrifice of indi- 
vidual judgment, and by a strict regard to the directions and 
