390  Revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia    j^""-  ^""junl^ig^o] 
To  this  assembled  Convention  is  submitted  the  foregoing  report 
of  the  work  of  a  Committee  which,  as  far  as  its  present  personnel 
is  concerned,  ceases  to  exist  officially  within  the  next  few  hours. 
There  is  no  greater  honor  or  responsibility  than  can  come  to  a  physi- 
cian, pharmacist  or  chemist  than  of  being  included  in  this  galaxy  of 
workers.  What  the  present  Committee  has  accomplished  has  been 
done  under  the  stimulus  of  the  high  standard  set  by  the  previous 
revision,  of  which  so  many  commendable  things  were  said  by  foreign 
critics,  who  may  be  expected  to  have  a  broader  perspective  and  a 
fairer  viewpoint  in  some  respects  than  those  who  are  close  at  hand. 
Many  of  our  members  have  labored  in  season  and  out  to  make  the 
book  worthy  of  American  medicine  and  pharmacy.  Whether  we 
have  succeeded  or  not,  it  is  the  best  that  was  possible  to  be  done 
under  existing  circumstances.  The  time,  thought,  energy,  we  may 
even  say  the  life-blood  of  men  who  did  the  best  they  knew  how, 
are  woven  into  its  structure. 
To  this  Convention  is  entrusted  the  responsibility  of  selecting 
the  next  Revision  Committee.  Whatever  be  the  conditions  under 
which  the  next  revision  will  be  undertaken,  you  should  not  lose 
sight  of  the  fact  that  capability  and  willingness  to  serve  are  the 
fundamental  considerations  that  should  guide  you  in  your  choice. 
There  should  be  an  entire  absence  of  rivalry  or  jealousy  except  that 
which  animates  men  who  are  each  trying  to  see  who  can  best  work 
.and  best  agree.  The  next  United  States  Pharmacopoeia  should 
be  a  work  which  will  enlist  the  support  of  that  which  is  best  in  the 
professions  sharing  the  responsibility  of  its  revision. 
The  initials  are  symbolic  of  three  guiding  principles  which  should 
be  kept  ever  in  mind,  for  without  them  no  true  success  can  be 
achieved.  They  are  Unity,  Service  and  Patience,  and  in  closing 
let  me  again  say  that  revisions  may  come  and  go,  but  it  will  be 
long  before  you  will  find  a  chairman  who  will  exemplify  these 
attributes  as  did  Chairman  Joseph  P.  Remington,  whose  memory 
might  suitably  be  honored  at  this  time  by  selecting  men  of  his  un- 
selfish, loyal  and  steadfast  type  to  revise  the  next  United  States 
Pharmacopoeia. 
