Am\uluusrt'  Fi9%m' }  Pharmacy  and  Publicity.  529 
did  not  enthusiastically  help  in  correcting  these  conditions,  and  it  is 
this  indifference  which  tends  to  retard  the  advance  of  pharmacy  so 
essential  for  the  advancement  of  medicine.  When  an  unprejudiced 
analysis  is  made  of  existing  conditions  in  pharmacy,  and  medicine 
also,  for  that  matter,  it  will  be  found  that  the  aloofness  of  the  medi- 
cal'profession  is  a  contributory  cause.  The  people  have  a  right  to 
demand  a  service  from  the  cooperative  endeavor  of  medicine  and 
pharmacy.  These  professions  have  been  granted  special  privileges 
because  they  serve  the  public,  and  the  latter  has  a  right  to  expect 
and  investigate  their  cooperation.  There  is  a  widening  field  of 
medical  science  before  us,  developed  by  the  experiences  of  the  world 
war.  There  should  be  helpful  publicity,  coordination  and  coopera- 
tion of  all  engaged  in  the  activities  concerned  with  medicine. 
Statements  of  officials  and  of  the  press  that  are  derogatory  to 
pharmacy  tod  frequently  go  unchallenged.  The  advertisements  of 
manufacturers  sometimes  cast  aspersions  on  the  drug  trade,  and 
then  these  same  manufacturers,  in  language  that  does  not  evidence 
sincerity,  seek  the  cooperation  of  the  drug  trade.  Such  two-faced 
methods  should  be  exposed.  Without  regard  for  actual  facts  asser- 
tions are  made  relative  to  methods  employed  in  drug  stores,  in- 
stances of  violation  are  given  general  application,  but  seldom  is  a 
corrected  statement  accorded  the  same  publicity  as  that  of  the  sen- 
sational item.  ,The  deplorable  acts  of  an  individual  who  is  an  out- 
cast as  far  as  pharmacy  is  concerned  are- made  the  thundering 
charges  against  all  engaged  in  pharmacy.  This  should  not  be  so ; 
publicity  is  needed. 
And  now  with  the  general  prohibition  of  the  sale  of  alcoholics, 
druggists  will  have  a  serious  condition  to  meet  which  will  require 
their  most  careful  thought,  sincere  patriotism  and  loyalty  to  the  pro- 
fession of  pharmacy.  They,  unfortunately,  will  practically  alone 
have  the  right  to  dispense  alcoholic  beverages,  as  medicine,  and 
every  device  and  scheme  known  to  the  ingenuity  of  man  will  be 
tried  in  tempting  their  strict  adherence  to  their  obligations.  The 
majority  will  stand  the  test;  some  will  fall,  and  then  a  general  ap- 
plication of  violation  of  trust  will  be  made.  Preparations  must  be 
made  to  meet  the  exigency  rightly,  or  pharmacy  will  seriously  suffer. 
In  this,  as  in  the  sale  of  narcotics,  conscienceless  physicians  will  join 
in  order  to  profit.  It  is  time  physicians  and  pharmacists  and  their 
associations  cooperate  to  correct  these  despicable  methods  of  traffic. 
A  more  intimate  acquaintance  will  prove  that  the  sincere  in  both 
professions  desire  to  serve  honorably  and  well. 
