520  Revision  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.     {A^ui°uusrt'  ^ijm" 
The  eighth  revision  of  our  pharmacopoeia  was  translated  into 
Spanish  to  meet  the  needs  of  Latin  America.  It  might  be  suggested 
that  the  coming  revision  should  be  translated  into  French.  This 
would  make  the  work  available  throughout  the  continent  of  Europe 
where.,  for  years  to  come,  conditions  will  preclude  the  issuance  of 
pharmacopoeias  or  pharmaceutical  literature. 
The  United  States  Pharmacopoeia,  in  English  and  in  French, 
coupled  with  the  far-reaching  British  Pharmacopoeia,  must  certainly 
dominate  the  world  of  pharmaceutical  thought. 
Fundamental  Principles. 
There  are  certain  fundamental  principles  which  should  govern 
the  revision  and  the  use  of  the  pharmacopoeia.  These  should  be 
kept  ever  in  view.  The  whole  of  the  vast  machinery  which  has  to 
do  with  the  preparation  and  dispensing  of  medicines,  must  have  for 
its  foundation  the  pharmacopoeia.  The  well-being  of  the  people  in 
sickness,  in  life,  in  death,  is  linked  with  the  pharmacopoeia. 
One  of  the  primary  objects  of  the  pharmacopoeia  is  to  secure  the 
uniformity  and  the  integrity  of  medicine.  Without  a  pharmacopoeia 
there  would  be  medical  chaos.  Abolish  the  pharmacopoeia  and  we 
are  without  chart,  compass  or  rudder. 
We  can  hardly  imagine  the  helplessness  of  a  people  with  such  a 
preparation  as  the  tincture  of  opium  put  out  under  a  different  stand- 
ard by  each  dispenser. 
To  secure  uniformity  and  integrity  was  one  of  the  principles 
which  governed  the  founders  of  the  pharmacopoeia.  This  vital  prin- 
ciple existed  long  before  the  coming  of  the  Pure  Food  and  Drugs 
Law,  which  enactment  made  it  into  a  legal  standard.  It  always  has 
been,  and  always  must  be,  the  standard  else  it  loses  its  vital  spirit. 
The  pharmacopoeia  is  now  controlled,  revised  and  made  upon 
the  same  basis  as  is  the  government  of  the  people  which  it  serves. 
A  representative  body  makes  and  revises  the  pharmacopoeia.  The 
present  makeup  of  this  body  is  that  which  has  grown  with  the  years. 
Representatives  from  the  medical  profession,  from  associations,  col- 
leges and  institutions,  from  certain  branches  of  the  government; 
representatives  elected  from  every  branch  of  the  art  and  trade  in 
drugs  and  medicines,  control  and  formulate  the  revision. 
Were  the  pharmacopoeia  to  be  issued  under  government  control, 
or  under  the  control  of  one  body,  of  some  one  school  or  college  of 
