166  Professionalism  vs.  Commercialism.        {  Am  April  ^s™' 
ception  he  recognized  the  fact  that  pharmacy  based  on  commercial- 
ism cannot  prosper,  and  his  aim  has  been  to  elevate  the  desirable 
side-line,  and  strengthen  his  position  with  the  medical  profession  as 
well  as  the  laity. 
Let  me  use  a  metaphor.  A  strong  and  vigorous  man  enjoys  the 
freshness  of  the  water  of  the  Niagara  River  above  the  Falls.  He  is 
a  good  swimmer,  he  knows  his  surroundings,  no  idea  of  danger 
ever  enters  his  mind.  He  has  done  the  same  for  years.  Then  one 
morning,  venturing  out  further  toward  the  Falls,  he  discovers  that 
he  is  gently  carried  off  by  the  current.  "  I  must  turn  around,"  he 
says  to  himself,  and  he  does.  But  has  he  become  weaker  than  in 
former  days,  or  is  the  current  stronger  ?  for  he  is  slowly  but  surely 
being  dragged  toward  the  Falls.  His  feeling  of  safety  leaves  him. 
For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  feels  that  he  has  made  a  mistake, 
that  he  cannot  depend  on  his  own  resources.  He  looks  around  for 
assistance,  but  there  is  none.  The  banks  of  the  river  are  far  from 
him  on  both  sides.  The  rushing  of  water  drowns  his  voice,  and 
there  he  is,  in  the  midst  of  the  irresistible,  constant  current.  His 
apprehension  turns  to  fear.  How  can  he  save  himself?  Already 
his  strength  is  leaving  him.  In  a  few  minutes  he  will  be  beyond 
the  hope  of  rescue.  In  this  state  of  mind  he  sees  not  far  from  him 
a  raft.  With  the  last  remaining  strength  he  swims  toward  it,  he 
climbs  on  it.  "  I  am  saved,"  he  shouts  and  lays  on  it  exhausted, 
but  in  the  ecstasy  of  joy.  And  more  than  this,  on  the  raft  he  dis- 
covers many  treasures,  precious  stones  and  bags  of  gold.  "  What 
a  find,"  he  cries,  "how  lucky  I  did  not  reach  the  shore  in  time." 
After  the  first  fulness  of  his  joy  he  again  looks  around.  Is  he  really 
safe?  He  discovers  to  his  dismay  that  his  rescue  is  only  seeming, 
for  the  raft  and  treasures  and  rider  are  still  in  the  current,  and  slowly 
moving  toward  the  Falls.  But  there  is  help  from  another  quarter. 
On  the  bank  he  discovers  some  friends.  They  motion  to  him ;  they 
show  him  a  rope.  At  a  favorable  point  they  throw  it  to  him. 
"  Now  I  am  safe,"  he  cries.  Eagerly  he  grasps  the  rope.  He  pulls 
at  it  in  his  excitement ;  but,  alas,  it  is  too  thin  and  weak  to  stop  the 
momentum  of  the  raft;  it  breaks  and  leaves  him  helpless  again. 
His  fright  approaches  despair.  What  shall  he  do  ?  Again  his 
friends  motion  to  him.  Now  he  understands.  The  rope  is  thrown 
again,  but  this  time,  instead  of  trying  to  carry  the  heavy  raft  with 
him,  he  ties  the  rope  around  his  waist,  takes  a  few  of  the  treasures 
