516  Revision  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.      { A^Jg°J2;  ^fgf' 
It  is  the  generally  expressed  opinion  that  the  influence  the 
pharmacopoeia  has  among  medical  practitioners,  and  even  among 
the  public,  in  other  words,  its  popularity,  depends  largely  upon  how 
far  pharmacists  are  able  to  demonstrate  their  own  ability  to  inter- 
pret the  formulas  and  standards  that  are  embodied  in  it.  In  short, 
the  popularity  of  the  pharmacopoeia  rests  with  the  pharmacist. 
I  presented  to  this  association  certain  suggestions  as  to  how  the 
druggist  might  help  to  popularize  the  pharmacopoeia.  Among  the 
suggestions  were  these — 
That  the  druggist  should  become  the  sales  agent  of  the  pharma- 
copoeia. That  if  possible  he  should  attempt  to  create  a  demand  for 
the  work. 
That  the  pharmacist  should  endeavor  to  educate  the  public  as  to 
the  meaning  of  the  pharmacopoeia,  and  its  influence  upon  the  trade 
in  drugs  and  medicine. 
That  so  far  as  possible  he  should  educate  his  customers  to  realize 
that  the  goods  dispensed  in  his  store  are  made  and  dispensed  ac- 
cording to  the  .pharmacopoeial  standard. 
It  was  suggested  that  the  popularizing  of  the  pharmacopoeia 
would  increase  the  reputation  not  only  of  the  pharmacopoeia  itself, 
but  of  the  druggist,  and  create  a  new  view  point  for  the  customer, 
who,  if  he  understood  the  real  meaning  of  the  pharmacopoeia,  instead 
of  judging  the  value  of  an  article  by  the  price,  would  judge  it  by  its 
integrity  and  by  the  statement  on  the  label. 
It  was  also  suggested  that  druggists  should  have  the  letters 
"U.  S.  P."  upon  their  labels  and  packages  wherever  the  contents 
would  permit. 
That  through  the  various  journals,  newspapers,  circulars  and 
otherwise,  the  pharmacist  should  announce  the  advent  of  a  new 
pharmacopoeia,  and  emphasize  the  fact  that  preparations  from  his 
store  are  made  according  to  this  standard. 
It  is  possible  that  through  measures  of  this  character,  instead 
of  having  a  new  pharmacopoeia  as  an  event  to  be  dreaded,  or  to  be 
endured,  that  it  could  be  commercialized,  and  that  the  pharmacist, 
should  he  so  desire,  might  make  money  out  of  the  pharmacopoeia. 
We  might  here  suggest  the  advisability  of  a  publicity  bureau  in 
behalf  of  the  pharmacopoeia  upon  each  recurring  revision,  and  let 
this  bureau,  through  the  medical  press,  through  pharmaceutical 
journals,  through  the  lay  press,  and  through  every  available  chan- 
nel, clearly  express  what  the  pharmacopoeia  is,  and  what  it  means  to 
our  people. 
