Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1879. 
Editorial. 
33 1 
When  the  convention  of  1870  met,  we  believe  that  there  was  no  pharmaceutical* 
State  association  in  existence.  Daring  the  last  ten  years  fifteen  have  been  organized,, 
nearly  all  of  which,  we  believe,  are  actively  sustained.  They  are  likely  to  furnish  a. 
new  element,  at  least  in  future  revisions  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  representing  that  large 
number  of  pharmacists  who  live  in  smaller  cities  and  towns  where  they  cannot  be 
in  active  communication  with  the  colleges.  Their  wishes  require  to  be  heard,  like 
those  of  the  State  medical  societies.  We  have  not  learned  that  any  of  these  State 
associations  have  undertaken  the  preliminary  revision  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,  perhaps 
because,  under  the  rules  adopted  in  1870,  no  provision  could  be  made  for  the  recep- 
tion of  their  delegates,  But,  we  doubt  not,  the  result  of  their  labor  would  receive 
the  same  consideration  as  if  they  were  represented  by  delegations.  Notwithstanding 
the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  unity  of  action  when  working  members  of  a  commit- 
tee live  at  great  distances  from  one  another,  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion, which  is  likewise  not  entitled  to  representation  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  convention,, 
has  undertaken  the  work,. and  we  feel  confident  that,  notwithstanding  the  great 
difficulties,  it  will  be  accomplished,  under  its  efficient  chairman,  in  such  a  complete 
manner  as  can  be  reasonably  expected. 
For  State  associations  the  difficulties  are  by  far  less,  and  though  it  may  be  too 
late  for  most  of  them  to  carry  a  preliminary  revision  successfully  through,  the  indi- 
vidual members  could  attend  at  least  to  a  portion  of  the  work,  and  thus  pave  the 
way  for  the  future.  Or  if  that  should  be  impracticable,  they  would  work  for  the 
interest  of  pharmacy  if  they  would  communicate  their  suggestions,  in  the  concise 
manner  indicated  above,  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  American  Phar- 
maceutical Association,  Mr.  Chas.  Rice,  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York,  or  to  the 
nearest  College  of  Pharmacy.  In  a  country  as  extended  as  the  United  States  it  is 
impossible  for  the  few  to  be  cognizant  of  the  wants  of  every  section,  and  it  rests 
with  the  pharmacists  and  physicians  of  those  sections  to  make  their  wants  felt  j, 
more  particularly  is  this  the  case  with  the  Southern  and  far  Western  States,  where 
many  remedies  are  applied  which  are  unknown  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States. 
In  our  opinion,  no  pharmacist  is  justified  in  finding  fault  with  the  new  Pharmaco- 
poeia, if  he  has  not  assisted  in  the  work  of  revision  to  the  best  of  his  ability  and 
opportunity. 
State  Pharmaceutical  Associations.— It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  we  announce- 
in  the  p-esent  issue  the  organization  of  a  pharmaceutical  society  for  the  State  of 
New  York.  In  addition  to  this,  the  youngest,  there  are  now  similar  organizations 
in  most  of  the  New  England  States,  in  New  Jer-ey,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Mississippi,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Michigan,  Kansas  and  California.  In 
September  next  the  National  Association  will  meet  at  Indianapolis,  in  a  section  of 
the  country  which  was  formerly  designated  the  West,  but  has  at  the  present  time, 
perhaps,  greater  claim  to  be  called  the  centre  of  the  United  States.  The  States- 
located  in  this  portion  are  surrounded  by  those  in  which  the  pharmacists  and  diug- 
gists  have  awakened  to  the  necessity  of  organizing  themselves  for  mutual  advance- 
ment and  protection.    We  are  convinced  that  it  requires  only  an  invitation  from  a 
