Am'ju<i"ifo3arm'}      Father  of  American  Pharmacy.  339 
Prof.  Wm.  Procter,  Jr.,  occupied  an  unique  position  in  the  profes- 
sion of  pharmacy  and,  under  great  disadvantages,  rose  to  the  high- 
est eminence.  Beginning,  with  limited  means,  as  an  apprentice  in 
an  apothecary  shop,  without  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education, 
he  ascended,  by  diligence  and  well  directed  effort,  from  its  rudi- 
ments to  the  top.  In  theory  and  practice  he  became  the  most 
accomplished  pharmacist  of  his  day  and  generation,  and  perhaps 
contributed  more  to  the  higher  branches  of  pharmaceutical  literature 
than  any  other  pharmacist  of  the  nineteenth  century.  His  work 
was  thorough  and  original,  and  evidenced  the  imprint  of  his  charac- 
ter for  systematic  research ;  and  the  pages  of  the  American  Jour- 
nal of  Pharmacy,  beginning  with  his  thesis  for  graduation  from  the 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  in  1837,  and  continuing  with 
regularity  to  the  year  of  his  death,  attest  his  purpose  in  life  and 
form  a  monument  built  by  his  own  hands  that  will  always  be  a  bea- 
con light  to  those  who  wish  to  enter  the  profession  and  who  are 
interested  enough  to  care  for  its  scientific  evolution.  The  proceed- 
ings of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  are  also  periodic 
witnesses  to  his  industry  and  ability,  both  as  an  investigator  and  a 
writer  ;  and  at  every  annual  meeting  he  contributed  papers  that  were 
of  practical  utility  to  every  pharmacist.  At  the  last  meeting  that  he 
attended — 1873 — a  few  months  before  his  death,  he  contributed 
papers  and  took  an  active  interest  in  the  business  of  the  association. 
Professor  Procter  was  successful  in  the  respect,  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  associates,  and  in  return  was  just,  honorable  and 
upright  in  his  relations  with  his  fellow-men.  He  loved  knowledge 
and  sought  it,  and  in  his  benevolence  willingly  imparted,  what  he 
had  so  arduously  learned,  to  others. 
These  are  the  monuments  which  he  himself  has  builded,  and  it 
would  now  become  us  who  have  profited  by  his  labors  to  make  a 
substantial  recognition  to  his  memory,  for,  above  all  others  of  his 
class,  his  example  is  most  worthy  of  emulation  and  lasting  renown. 
The  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  has  taken  a  step  in 
this  direction,  and  at  the  semi-centennial  meeting  in  Philadelphia 
last  September  a  report  was  presented  by  the  Committee  on  the 
"  Procter  Memorial  "  that  was  favorably  received.  Without  mean- 
ing to  object  in  any  way  to  the  report  of  this  committee,  I  feel  that 
something  more  should  be  done  to  honor  and  perpetuate  the  mem- 
ory of  this  great  and  good  man  ;  a  something  that  will  substantially 
