AMjuJi°™; iP8hrm  }     Future  of  Pharmacy  in  Germany.  329 
tical  application  leave  no  doubt  that  the  modern  popularized  teachings 
of  hygiene  and  of  the  sanitary  and  medical  sciences,  which  are  promul- 
gated by  the  advanced  schools  of  medicine  and  by  popular  literature,* 
as  well  as  of  medical  skepticism  will  here  find  a  fruitful  soil,  just  as 
homoeopathy  has  found  its  adherents  not  merely  among  the  ignorant, 
but  rather  among  the  wealthier  and  educated  classes  of  society.  The 
consequences  of  such  a  popularization  of  a  correcter  knowledge  of 
hygiene  and  of  rational  methods  of  preventing,  preserving  and  restor- 
ing health  without  the  former  resort  to  unwise  and  excessive  medica- 
tion, must  be  the  same  here  as  in  Europe,  as  far  as  the  material 
emoluments  of  the  pharmaceutical  pursuit  are  concerned,  and  inasmuch 
as  they  will  in  time  greatly  diminish  the  income  of  the  pharmacist, 
they  will  also  be  in  direct  antagonism  with  the  demands  of  modern 
times  for  higher  education,  which  requires  increased  expenditure  of 
time,  labor  and  money.  All  legislative  restrictions  and  regulations 
will  prove  one-sided  and  without  real  and  permanent  value,  as  long 
as  they  aim  to  raise  the  claims  for  a  higher  qualification  and  standard 
only,  without  affording,  on  the  other  hand,  some  guarantee  for  a  sure 
and  remunerative  application  of  the  higher  proficiency,  and  for  the 
conditions  necessary  for  the  material  prosperity  of  the  practice  of 
pharmacy.  Compared  to  the  physician  and  the  tradesman,  the  phar- 
macist occupies  an  exceptional  position  ;  the  former  applies  his  indi- 
vidual knowledge  and  skill  without  investment  of  capital  or  risk,  and 
without  any  restriction  ;  the  merchant  chooses  his  wares  according  to 
demand  and  want,  and  can  control  his  investments  quantitatively  and 
qualitatively  ;  he  employs  laborers  or  clerks  with  less  knowledge  and 
without  responsibility ;  his  wares  usually  retain  their  value,  and  are 
less  prone  to  deterioration.  In  this  material  age  and  concrete  and 
practical  country  of  ours,  there  cannot  be  expected  for  any  length  of 
time,  an  acquisition  of  talent  and  skill,  or  a  permanent  and  steady 
elevation  of  a  calling  whose  resources  appear  to  be  everywhere  on  the 
decline,  f  and  which  involves  an  amount  of  time,  resignation  and  re- 
*The  Sanitarian,  the  Herald  of  Health,  and  the  Journal  of  Health,  are 
monthlies  published  in  New  York.  See,  also,  the  annual  Proceedings  of  the 
American  Public  Health  Association:  also,  Youman's  Popular  Science 
Monthly,  No.  10,  p.  422  ;  No.  12,  p.  665  ;  No.  22,  p.  421,  and  numerous  similar 
publications. 
t  The  practice  of  our  profession  is  becoming  more  arduous, — its  scientific  re- 
lations more  complicated  as  civilization  and  science  advance,  while  its  legitima  e 
rewards  diminish,  because  the  scope  of  the  business  contracts,  while  compe- 
