344  The  American  Medical  Association. 
Report  by  the  Secretary,  C.  S.  N.  Hallberg. 
"  The  External  Preparations  of  the  U.S.P.,"  by  C.  S.  N.  Hallberg. 
These  several  reports  and  communications  were  further  supple- 
mented by  the  following  report,  made  by  the  Committee  on  Resolu- 
tions, that  appears  to  embody  the  spirit  of  the  several  meetings  to 
such  a  degree  that  we  take  the  space  to  reproduce  it  in  its  entirety. 
The  report  not  alone  met  with  a  favorable  reception,  but  was  also 
unanimously  adopted  and  referred  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
American  Medical  Association  for  their  consideration  and  further 
action. 
(1)  The  Section  of  Pharmacology  and  Therapeutics  of  the  American  Medical 
Association  welcomes  every  endeavor  to  advance  the  status  of  pharmacy  as  a 
learned  profession,  and  expresses  its  full  sympathy  with  the  efforts  of  the 
American  Pharmaceutical  Association  in  this  direction.  The  pharmacist, 
whether  he  be  a  dispenser  or  a  manufacturer,  must  work  hand-in-hand  with 
the  physician  to  consummate  the  results  so  urgently  desired  by  both.  We  rec- 
ognize that  physicians  as  prescribers  must  rely  upon  the  fidelity  of  the  pharma- 
cist and  of  the  pharmaceutical  manufacturer.  Therefore  it  is  highly  desirable 
that  more  cordial  relations  and  more  thorough  understanding  should  be  fostered 
between  both  professions  in  order  that  the  limits  of  legitimate  pharmaceutical 
manufacturing  may  be  more  clearly  defined. 
We  believe  in  regard  to  pharmaceutical  preparations  that  secrecy  concerning 
any  substance  possessing  the  slightest  physiologic  activity  is  improper  and 
intolerable.  The  doctor  has  a  right,  and  it  is  his  duty,  to  insist  upon  the  most 
complete  and  exact  information  obtainable  concerning  the  active  agents  which 
exist  in  any  preparation  he  uses. 
We  deprecate  fanciful  and  inaccurate  trade-names  and  titles,  and  recommend 
a  more  rational  and  scientific  nomenclature  in  the  naming  of  pharmaceutical 
preparations  and  products.  We  believe  that  by  a  system  of  process  patenting 
a  closer  approach  to  ideal  conditions  can  be  reached  an  1  that  it  would  obviate 
many  of  the  present  features  of  the  pharmaceutical  industry  to  which  just 
objection  has  been  taken.  Such  tangible  protection  as  is  necessary  can  be 
given  in  most  instances  by  the  addition  of  the  manufacturer's  name  to  the 
proper  and  intelligible  title  of  the  pharmaceutical  product,  thus  insuring  a 
recognized  grade  of  accuracy  and  quality. 
(2)  The  Section  believes  that  the  Council  of  Pharmacj'and  Chemistry  can  do 
much  to  bring  about  this  desirable  state  of  affairs;  and,  to  the  end  that  its  work 
may  be*  broadened  and  the  results  become  of  as  great  benefit  as  possible  to  the 
medical  profession  whose  interests  it  must  primarily  serve,  the  Section  earnestly 
recommends  that  a  larger  representation  be  given  to  clinical  therapeutics  by 
the  election  annually  from  the  working  membership  of  this  Section  of  two 
members  of  the  Council  to  serve  for  one  year. 
(3)  The  Section  is  heartily  in  favor  of  and  strongly  urges  the  establishment 
of  a  National  Department  of  Health,  with  representation  in  the  Cabinet. 
(4)  The  Section  learns  with  regret  that  certain  manufacturing  pharmacists 
have  practically  placed  the  facilities  of  their  plants  at  the  disposal  of  vendors 
