53C  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  {Am  octu!'iSu.arm" 
Communications  were  received  from  the  Virginia  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion inviting  the  members  to  attend  the  sessions  of  that  body  ;  also  to  be 
present  at  the  lecture  by  Professor  Remington  on  the  metric  system,  to  be 
delivered  on  Wednesday  morning. 
The  Section  on  Commercial  Interests  held  two  sessions  on  Tuesday,  Mr.  Kliel 
occupying  the  chair.  In  his  annual  address  the  Chairman  referred  to  the  use- 
lessness  of  efforts  being  made  for  abolishing  the  special  liquor  tax  ;  the  rapid 
increase  of  proprietary  pharmaceuticals  was  characterized  as  a  detriment  to 
legitimate  pharmacy,  and  it  was  suggested  to  ask  the  co-operation  of  the 
American  Medical  Association  with  the  view  of  checking  the  evil ;  attention 
was  called  to  the  cutting  in  prices  on  proprietary  medicines,  and  it  was  suggested 
that  steps  be  taken  for  mutual  insurance  against  fire. 
Secretary  Kilmer's  report  dealt  likewise  with  price  cutting  ;  also  with  shorter 
business  hours,  trade  unions  by  pharmacists,  advertising  of  specialties,  and  with 
other  matters  of  trade  interests.  A  lengthy  discussion  took  place  on  the  various 
plans,  which  had  been  suggested  from  time  to  time  to  prevent  the  cutting  of 
prices,  co-operation  of  the  retailers  being  recommended,  also  the  joint  manu- 
facture of  family  medicines  to  take  the  place  of  such,  the  profit  on  which  had 
been  reduced  through  the  so-called  cutters. 
The  various  questions  having  been  referred  to  a  committee,  the  report  was 
considered  at  the  evening  session,  when  the  conclusion  was  reached  that  in 
regard  to  the  prescribing  of  proprietary  preparations  by  physicians  the  best 
results  would  be  accomplished  through  individual  work  ;  a  conference  was 
suggested  between  committees  of  the  Pharmaceutical,  the  Wholesale  Druggists' 
and  the  Proprietors'  Associations  ;  and  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to 
mature  a  feasible  plan  for  mutual  insurance. 
Mr.  Henry  Canning,  of  Boston,  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Section,  and 
Mr.  W.  I,.  Dewoody,  of  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,  Secretary,  and  after  installing  the 
newly  elected  officers,  and  passing  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  retiring  officers,  the 
Section  adjourned. 
The  Section  on  Scientific  Papers  held  four  sessions,  including  an  adjourned 
one,  for  the  reading  and  discussion  of  papers.  Professor  Whelpley  occupied 
the  chair  and  Professor  Stevens  acted  as  Secretary.  The  following  papers 
were  read  : 
The  Constitutional  Obligation  of  Congress  Regarding  Weights  and  Measures 
was  discussed  by  Professor  Oldberg  in  a  lengthy  paper  giving  the  history  of 
what  has  been  said  and  projected  on  this  subject  during  the  past  century,  in 
the  United  States,  and  leading  to  the  conclusion  that  "  we  have  now  no  legalized 
standards  and  denominations  at  all,  unless  Sections  3569  and  3570,  R.  S.,  are 
to  be  construed  as  making  the  metric  weights  and  measures  our  only  legalized 
system."  The  following  resolutions  accompanying  the  paper  were  concurred 
in,  and  by  the  Association  referred  to  a  committee,  with  power  to  act. 
Whereas,  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  imposes  upon  Congress  the 
duty  of  establishing  fixed  standards  of  weights  and  measures  for  the  use  of  the 
people  ;  and 
Whereas,  The  customary  weights  and  measures  in  use  in  the  United 
States  are  arbitrary,  unsystematic,  inconvenient  and  indefinite,  being  gov  erned 
partly  by  English  law,  partly  by  tradition,  and  partly  by  chance  ;  and 
