AnoctoberjSm'}    American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  505 
In  discussing  these  papers,  Professor  Remington  remarked  that  it  was  very- 
encouraging  to  notice  that  the  metric  system  was  being  taught  in  many  of  the 
schools  to  children.  F.  G.  Ryan  urged  the  medical  schools  to  make  use  of  the 
metric  system  and  teach  the  same.  Mr.  Sloan,  of  Indianapolis,  said  that  the 
medical  school  in  Springfield,  111.,  was  doing  what  Professor  Ryan  had  just 
suggested. 
THE  FRAMING  OF  A  MODEL  PHARMACY  LAW. 
By  Henry  M.  Whitney. 
The  author  said  :  "  As  all  laws  are  supposed  to  be  made  for  the  best  interests 
of  the  people,  it  is  assumed  that  a  pharmacy  law  is  for  the  protection  of  the 
people.  (1)  To  secure  reliable  drugs,  true  to  name;  care,  skill  and  accuracy 
in  compounding  and  dispensing.  (2)  To  prevent  those  not  qualified  and  certi- 
fied by  State  authority  from  claiming  the  right  to  compound,  sell  or  dispense 
drugs,  medicines,  chemicals  and  poisons,  to  the  probable  injury  of  the  people. 
The  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  for  medicinal  use,  like  some  of  the  poisons,  is 
also  restricted  by  law,  and  their  use  in  compounding  .and  dispensing  is  a  neces- 
sity in  the  drug  store  ;  we  have,  then,  for  the  pharmacy  law  to  secure  and  ap- 
prove :  (1)  Competent  persons,  qualified  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  con- 
ducting a  drug  store.  (2)  Sufficient  wisdom  and  knowledge  to  prevent  the 
sale  of  poisons  for  improper  use.  (3)  Judgment  and  discretion  in  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors  for  medicinal  use.  (4)  A  clear,  comprehensive  apprecia- 
tion of  the  law,  as  required  by  statute,  and  positive  compliance  with  it." 
HOW  CAN  WE  MANAGE  THE  NOSTRUM  EVIL? 
By  R.  G.  EJccles. 
The  author  said  that  the  granting  of  trade-marks  to  secret  nostrums  is  a 
prostitution  of  justice,  etc.  "  I,et  us  insist  upon  every  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  nostrums  filing  the  full  working  formula  of  each  of  their  preparations  before 
they  receive  the  protection  of  a  copyright.  Have  it  sufficient  evidence  for  con- 
viction when  three  well-informed  pharmacists  testify  that  by  following  the 
directions  given  they  can  produce  no  such  product  as  the  one  trade-marked. 
Insist  upon  the  trade-mark  being  distinct  from  the  name  by  which  the  mixture 
is  publicly  known.  After  a  definite  number  of  years  permit  any  person  to 
make  that  same  mixture,  and  sell  it  by  the  same  name,  but  do  not  permit  them 
to  imitate  the  trade-mark  of  the  original  proprietor.  The  distinction  between 
this  class  of  goods  and  genuine  patented  goods  under  such  law  would  exist  in 
the  fact  that  the  nostrum  need  not  comply  with  any  test  of  originality  or 
scientific  principle,  but  could  be  had  by  any  person  on  anything  in  the  shape 
of  a  mixture  simply  on  applying  for  the  same  at  Washington  and  paying 
the  fee." 
EXAMINATIONS. 
BY  W.  Iy.  SCOVILLE. 
The  author  called  attention  to  the  personal  element  as  a  part  of  the  subject  of 
examinations.  The  inherent  imperfections  which  are  in  all  of  us  mark  both 
our  opportunities  and  limitations,  and  it  would  seem  that  a  frank  acknowl- 
edgment of  these  qualities  may  lead  not  only  to  the  avoidance  of  certain 
errors,  but  to  the  discovery  of  new  methods  and  a  higher  degree  of  justice. 
