562 
MINUTES  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 
Pharmacopoeia,  to  be  used  in  all  civilized  countries.  Various  views  were 
offered,  and  a  large  majority  were  evidently  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of  the 
idea.  The  influence  of  climate,  and  the  various  needs  of  countries  in  con- 
sequence, were  offered  as  a  reason  for  not  adopting  a  universal  code,  but 
it  was  not  admitted  as  cogent,  as  it  was  believed  that  the  peculiar  needs 
of  special  cases  could  be  met  in  an  addendum.  The  Latin  was  adopted  as 
the  only  suitable  language  for  such  a  work;  one  member  advocated  hav- 
ing the  text  in  the  several  principal  languages  of  Europe  !  When  the  gen- 
eral features  were  settled,  and  the  final  vote  came  for  or  against  the  adop- 
tion of  the  suggestion  of  a  Universal  Pharmacopoeia,  the  votes  were  all  in 
the  affirmative  except  those  from  the  United  States,  which  were  given  in 
the  negative  because  the  delegates  believed  the  differences  in  the  Pharmacy 
of  Continental  Europe  and  that  of  the  United  States  was  too  marked,  as 
regards  the  strength  of  numerous  preparations,  to  permit  a  fusion  of  codes, 
-on  the  basis  of  either  the  German  or  the  French,  by  the  Pharmacepceial 
authorities  of  the  United  States. 
In  regard  to  weights  and  measures,  the  general  opinion  was  in  favor  of 
the  metrical  system.  M.  Margraff,  of  Berlin,  stated  that  the  Prussian 
Government  had  just  adopted  the  metrical  weights,  and  had  under  consid- 
eration the  measures.    The  action  of  our  own  Government  was  stated. 
The  second  and  third  sessions  were  chiefly  occupied  in  the  discussion  of 
certain  questions  previously  printed  and  circulated  among  the  members. 
The  first  of  these  was  in  reference  to  the  practice  of  Pharmacy,  which, 
for  clearness,  was  presented  under  three  heads,  viz.,  Shall  there  be  unlim- 
ited liberty,  as  in  ordinary  mercantile  business  ?  shall  there  be  free  prac- 
tice, with  the  guarantee  of  a  diploma  and  personal  responsibility  under 
the  common  law  ?  or  shall  there  be  a  wise  regulation  by  law  designed  to 
ensure  the  public  interests  and  to  protect  the  pharmaceutist? 
This  question  involved  that  of  free  competition  in  business,  and  called 
forth  much  discussion,  as  there  were,  especially  among  the  French  mem- 
bers, many  advocates  for  a  more  open  competition  than  obtains  in  many 
parts  of  Europe.  All  the  delegates  voted  against  the  first  view,  all  except 
those  from  the  United  States  against  the  second  view,  and  all  but  those  of 
the  United  States  in  favor  of  the  third  view,  which  was  carried  by  a  large 
majority  of  the  votes.  Had  the  delegates  acted  as  individuals  the  result 
might  have  been  the  same,  but  the  minority  would  have  been  much  larger, 
from  the  French  delegates  who  were  not  permitted  to  vote. 
The  second  question,  "  Is  it  proper  to  limit  the  multiplication  of  phar- 
maceutical shops  ?"  was  referred  to  a  Committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Dit- 
trich,  of  Prague  ;  Fluckiger,  of  Berne  ;  Peltz,  of  Riga  •  Gastinel,  of  Egypt ; 
Torok,  of  Hungary  •  Kretschner,  of  Breslau  ;  Walter,  of  Holland ;  and 
Faber,  of  New  York,  who  reported  in  favor  of  limiting  the  number  of 
pharmacies  by  law,  M.  Faber  alone  voting  in  the  negative. 
The  third  question  was,  "  Is  it  proper  to  demand  the  creation  of  Insti- 
tutions of  a  disciplinary  character,  destined  to  maintain  the  correct  stand- 
