.  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1885. 
Preliminary  Examination. 
11 
range  of  scientific  research.  He  should  have  a  stock  of  general  informa- 
tion, gathered  by  observation  as  Avell  as  from  practice,  experiment 
and  print  in  its  various  forms,  much  of  which  may  not  bear  directly 
on  his  calling,  but  the  possession  of  which  may  often  assist  him  in 
applying  ideas  and  working  out  methods  or  processes  that  may  be 
valuable  to  him. 
Why  does  he  become  a  Pharmacist  ? 
Ask  the  young  men  in  any  of  the  classes  of  our  schools  of  pharmacy 
and  most  likely  every  one  will  answer  To  earn  a  living."  This  is 
certainly  a  very  commendable  motive,  and  if  the  j)arty  shows  a  fitness 
for  it  he  should  be  encouraged  by  all  proper  means.  Schools  of 
Pharmacy  are  established  in  various  parts  of  this  country  as  well  as 
Europe  to  educate  young  men  in  the  different  branches  of  the  sciences 
required.  As  a  rule  these  are  in  the  habit  of  accepting  all  applicants 
who  are  willing  to  purchase  the  necessary  tickets.  No  question  is 
asked  as  to  the  fitness  or  ca{)acity  of  any  applicant  to  receive  and  be 
benefited  by  the  instruction  to  be  given  him.  If  he  has  not  any 
preliminary  ideas  or  knowledge  of  the  subjects  or  substances  to  be  dis- 
coursed upon,  how  can  he  receive,  retain  and  digest  the  matter  to  the 
extent  it  is  proper  and  necessary  he  should.  Here  is  where  and 
when  the  preliminary  examination  should  be  required.  Many  of  the 
young  men  who  attend  these  schools  have  had  no  practical  or  prelim- 
inary training  whatever.  They  attend  the  lectures,  purchase  and  sur- 
round themselves  with  every  book  of  reference  offered,  and  if  they 
have  retentive  memories  pass  a  successful  Junior  examination,  and  the 
succeeding  winter  repeat  the  dose,  with  the  difference  that  it  is  a 
degree  higher,  and  the  parchment  is  secured.  It  may. be  claimed  there 
are  practical  departments  attached  to  these  schools  ;  what  of  that  ?  Two 
or  three  hours  a  week,  for  four  or  five  months  of  a  winter  season,  to  be  a 
substitute  for  the  constant  drilling  (as  in  olden  times)  of  the  pestle  and 
mortar,  by  the  hour,  or  the  grinding  of  roots  and  drugs  by  the  half- 
day.  Place  a  young  man  at  a  prescription  counter  after  such  a  course 
of  studies  and  what  is  his  practical  worth  ?  An  answer  is  hardly 
necessary,  as  many  employers  who  will  read  this  have  had  experience 
and  can  answer  it  for  themselves. 
At  once  we  are  confronted  with  the  assertion  that  all  who  desire  to 
learn  have  not  and  cannot  obtain  the  practical  experience  of  a  proper 
kind,  and  it  may  be  so.  Is  this  any  reason  that  such  should  be 
crammed  theoretically  only,  and  on  the  day  of  graduation  placed  side 
