a8      National  Pharmaceutical  Service  Association.  {  Al?-  Jour-  Pharm- 
T"  January,  19 19. 
moulding  of  public  opinion  whereby  Congress  would  be  compelled 
to  authorize  the  modernizing  of  this  branch  of  the  medical  service, 
and  to  assure  to  our  soldiers  the  supervision  and  care  of  trained 
pharmacists  for  the  dispensing  of  needed  medicines,  was  no  small 
task. 
This  propaganda  has  been  carried  on  as  extensively  as  the  means 
at  our  command  permitted.  We  have  prepared  and  disseminated 
literature  setting  forth  the  service  of  pharmaceutical  corps  in  foreign 
armies,  especially  the  exemplary  work  of  this  corps  in  the  armies 
of  France,  and  the  existing  need  for  such  service  in  our  own  army. 
The  indorsement  of  the  movement  by  the  American  Medical 
Association  was  secured  and  its  influential  journal  has  editorially 
cordially  favored  the  creation  of  a  pharmaceutical  corps  as  a  need 
of  the  army  medical  service.  A  number  of  the  other  medical  asso- 
ciations have  likewise  by  resolution  endorsed  the  Edmonds  Bill  and 
the  medical  journals  have  generally  supported  the  movement.  The 
national,  state  and  local  pharmaceutical  associations  have  cooperated 
and  the  pharmaceutical  press  has  devoted  much  space  in  energetically 
advocating  our  cause. 
Thousands  of  our  petitions  have  been  distributed  and  scores  of 
these  signed  by  influential  citizens  have  been  filed  with  Congress. 
Hundreds  of  letters  have  been  addressed  to  congressmen,  senators 
and  departmental  officials  urging  the  necessity  for  the  proper  dis- 
pensing of  the  medicines  necessary  to  conserve  the  health  of  our 
soldiers.  The  campaign  of  education  thus  initiated  has  undoubtedly 
had  considerable  effect. 
This  association  has  been  actively  preparing  and  disseminating 
literature  relating  to  the  pharmaceutical  service  in  the  U.  S.  Army 
and  many  of  the  articles  appearing  in  the  public  press  have  been 
inspired  by  our  literature  or  the  personal  effort  of  members.  It  is 
safe  to  say  that  during  the  eighteen  months  that  have  elapsed  since 
the  organization  of  the  National  Pharmaceutical  Service  Associa- 
tion more  has  been  done  toward  enlightening  the  American  public 
on  the  lack  of  scientific  pharmacy  in  the  U.  S.  Army  than  had  been 
accomplished  in  all  the  years  of  prior  agitation  on  the  subject. 
The  work  of  the  National  Pharmaceutical  Service  Association  is 
not  done.  Although  this  war  may  be  at  an  end,  our  efforts  must 
not  cease  until  an  approved  modern  dispensing  of  the  medicines  and 
the  best  of  medical  attendance  is  assured  to  every  man  in  our  nation's 
army  and  navy  and  a  proper  recognition  for  the  pharmacists  en- 
