62 
Pharmacy  in  Southern  Illinois. 
/Am.  Jour.  Phakm. 
t     Feb.  1, 1874. 
plished  in  said  year.  Such  was  the  condition  of  pharmacy  up  to  the 
year  1873,  when  early  in  February  the  aspects  for  a  union  of  phar- 
macists were  getting  more  favorable. 
After  several  preliminary  conversations,  a  committee  on  organiza- 
tion was  formed,  an  agreement  of  organization  drawn  up  and  at  once 
signed  by  all  the  apothecaries  of  Belleville  then  members  of  said  com- 
mittee. 
A  circular  was  then  issued  by  this  committee,  and  sent  to  all  the 
colleagues  in  the  surrounding  country,  making  them  acquainted  with 
the  purpose  of  the  proposed  association,  and  calling  them  together  to 
participate  in  its  organization.  The  purposes  and  the  necessity  of 
such  a  society  were  not  duly  and  earnestly  enough  considered  and 
understood  by  the  larger  portion  of  the  colleagues  to  whom  these  cir- 
culars were  sent. 
Of  about  50  circulars  sent  off  only  a  few  were  answered  in  the  affir- 
mative, and  even  of  those  few  who  answered  them,  two  withdrew  after 
the  organization  was  accomplished  and  the  necessary  pecuniary  assist- 
ance called  for. 
Nevertheless  this  may  be  considered  a  most  fortunate  occurrence, 
which  need  not  be  deplored.  It  is  the  best  proof  of  their  incapacity  ? 
lack  of  manliness,  and  of  indifference  towards  the  welfare  of  the  pro- 
fession, its  elevation  and  future  progress.  Such  elements,  indeed, 
can  never  benefit  an  association ;  they  generally  prove  to  be  of  an 
unsteady  and  quarrelsome  nature,  endangering  the  peace,  prosperity 
and  future  existence  of  a  body. 
After  the  completion  of  the  necessary  preliminary  labor,  the  meet- 
ing of  organization  was  held  April  23d,  and  the  name  of  the  St.  Clair 
Pharmaceutical  Association  of  Southern  Illinois  was  adopted  in  honor 
of  the  county  in  which  it  originated. 
After  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  the  following 
officers  were  elected :  President,  N.  T.  Baker ;  Vice-President,  Wm. 
Feickert ;  Secretary,  A.  Gr.  F.  Streit ;  Treasurer,  A.  Rudolph. 
Associations  are  often  formed  with  a  view  to  pecuniary  gain  or  for 
social  purpose,  and  therefore  the  membership  of  such  organizations 
increases  faster  than  of  scientific  bodies.  This  idea  of  receiving 
direct  pecuniary  benefit  is  likewise  prevalent  among  many  apotheca- 
ries, and  therefore  they  refrain  from  joining  scientific  bodies.  Ano_ 
ther  reason  is  the  great  deficiency  of  their  pharmaceutical,  scientific, 
sometimes  even  general,  education,  not  enabling  them  to  converse  in- 
telligently with  other  colleagues  on  scientific  subjects. 
