220 
Editorials. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharni. 
April,  18!-5. 
responding  Secretary,  A.  Schachner ;  Treasurer,  P.  Fischer ;  Executive 
Board,  W.  Tafel,  E.  Goebel,  E.  Scheffer,  Jr.,  A.  J.  Schoettlin  and  S.  Flex- 
ner.  The  Association  contributed  |2o  towards  purchasing  instruments  for 
the  use  of  the  College. 
The  Pittsburg  College  of  Pharmacy  conferred  the  degree  of  Grad- 
uate in  Pharmacy  upon  six  candidates  at  the  commencement,  March  17th. 
The  St.  Louis  College  of  Pharmacy  held  its  nineteenth  commence- 
ment at  Memorial  Hall,  March  ISth. 
The  Albany  College  of  Pharmacy  held  its  fourth  commencement 
at  Agricultural  Hall,  March  2d,  eight  candidates  graduating. 
EDITORIAL  DEPARTMENT. 
The  Qualifications  of  a  Graduate  in  Pharmacy,  as  far  as  they 
relate  to  practical  expeiience  in  the  drug  business  and  to  the  age  of  the 
candidate,  have  been  discussed  in  an  open  letter  addressed  "to  the  Con- 
ference of  Teaching  Colleges  of  Pharmacy  "  by  the  Board  of  Pharmacy  of 
the  State  of  Illinois,  in  which  the  following  statement  is  made  : 
This  Board  has  received  Mpplications  of  late  for  registration  from  per- 
sons claiming  to  be  Graduates  in  Pharmacy,  and  who  present  as  creden- 
tials to  support  their  claims  what  are  termed  "  Certificates  of  Graduation  " 
or  "  Minor  Certificates,"  issued  by  Colleges  of  Pharmacy  holding  member- 
ship in  your  organization  ;  inquiry  developing  the  fact  that  the  holder  at 
the  time  of  final  examination  was  lacking  in  age  or  experience  and  that 
these  certificates  were  to  be  held  until  the  age  or  experience  is  had,  when 
a  diploma  will  issue. 
The  Board  is  perfectly  correct  in  refusing  to  recognize  such  certificates  ; 
in  fact,  Section  3  of  the  Pharmacy  La\v  of  Illinois,  passed  in  1881,  compels 
the  Board  to  take  this  course,  because  such  certificates  are  not  a  "  satisfac- 
tory diploma,"  nor  are  they  "credentials  of  attainments,"  as  explained  in 
that  Section.  We  have  no  knowledge  of  these  certificates,  except  what  is 
stated  above,  nor  are  we  in  favor  of  issuing  such  credentials ;  but  it  seems 
to  us  that  they  must  indicate  on  their  face  the  fact  of  7iot  being, diplomas. 
Are  the  holders  of  such  certificates  really  graduates?  or  is  not  rather  their 
becoming  graduates  depending  upon  some  conditions  still  to  be  complied 
with?  Does  the  fact  of  being  announced  as  such  at  the  annual  commence- 
ment, really  make  the  candidate  a  graduate,  although  he  is  fully  aware 
that  he  cannot  obtain  the  diploma,  which  is  the  evidence  of  graduation, 
until  after  he  has  complied  with  some  additional  requirements  ? 
We  believe  that  nearl3-  all  the  Colleges  of  Pharmacy  demand  proof  of  a 
practical  experience  of  3j  years  before  a  candidate  can  be  admitted  to  the 
final  examination  ;  the  case  cited  by  the  Board,  of  an  applicant  who  had 
only  fifteen  months'  experience  and  still  was  in  possession  of  such  a  certi- 
ficate, must  be  regarded  as  exceptional  and  as  not  countenanced  by  the 
