5i4  Revision  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.     { Am^uJg°uusrt; 
ally  has  for  consulting  a  pharmacopoeia  are  to  ascertain  the  prepara- 
tions or  forms  which  are  available  in  the  case  of  certain  drugs,  the 
strength  of  the  respective  preparation,  and  the  ordinary  dose.  This 
authority  has  stated  likewise  that  the  pharmacist  at  his  prescription 
counter  has  to  look  for  precisely  the  same  information  as  the  physi- 
cian desires. 
In  one  of  the  early  editions  of  the  pharmacopoeia  it  was  plainly 
stated  that  the  pharmacopoeia  "  did  permit  a  description  of  medi- 
cines of  acknowledged  value,  and  of  others  of  less  estimation."  It 
has  likewise  been  truly  urged  that  "  should  we  introduce  informa- 
tion on  pharmacodynamics  and  on  therapeutics,  we  would  never 
reach  the  end.  To  limit  the  pharmacopoeia  to  drugs  of  undoubted 
therapeutic  value  would  offend  many  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
medical  profession,  wedded  as  some  of  them  are  to  drugs  of  doubt- 
ful activity." 
Notwithstanding  such  strictures  we  may  well  believe  that  the 
value  of  the  pharmacopoeia  is  admitted  by  all  physicians,  and  from  a 
summary  of  the  discussions  we  may  formulate  the  following: 
The  physician  trusts  that  the  pharmacist  is  acquainted  with  the 
information  contained  in  the  pharmacopoeia. 
The  physician  seeks  only  for  information  of  practical  applica- 
tion for  himself. 
Physicians  regard  the  pharmacopoeia  as  unprogressive,  and  not 
representing  the  advances  and  innovations  constantly  put  forward 
by  manufacturers  and  the  medical  profession,  which  is  true. 
Physicians  do  not  look  to  the  pharmacopoeia  as  a  guide  for  the 
value  of  medicaments. 
The  pharmacopoeia  does  not  contain  all  medicaments  of  value. 
To  eliminate  from  the  pharmacopoeia  the  drugs  considered  by 
one  class  of  physicians  as  of  doubtful  value,  would  eliminate  many 
drugs  that  are  much  used,  and  thus  lessen  the  value  of  the  phar- 
macopoeia to  the  pharmacist. 
No  pharmacopoeia,  no  rule,  or  no  law  can  interfere  with  the 
practitioner  who  remains  loyal  to  the  old-fashioned  drugs  or  lines 
of  treatment. 
Popularity  of  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
From  a  book-trade  point  of  view  the  pharmacopoeia  would  not 
be  classed  as  among  the  "  best  sellers."    Physicians  have  openly 
