t 
200  ADDRESS. 
interference,  believing  that  a  large  number  in  all  parts  of  tbe 
United  States  have  adopted  regulations  for  this  traffic  in  their 
own  undirected  sense  of  its  propriety. 
Gentlemen,  you  need  hardly  be  reminded  of  the  precepts  you 
have  received  from  us  in  relation  to  this  subject ;  nor  will  I 
doubt  but  that  they  will  ever  be  remembered  in  your  profes- 
sional intercourse  with  the  public.  Toxicology,  or  the  science 
of  poisons,  in  its  medico-legal  aspect,  is  part  of  the  acquirements 
of  the  thorough  pharmaceutical  chemist.  He  should  be  able  to 
make  investigations  when  duty  calls  him  ;  but,  let  me  advise  you, 
leave  such  engagements  for  the  professional  chemist;  do  not 
seek  these  occasions  of  public  notoriety,  as  the  time  consumed  in 
the  process,  and  the  annoyance  of  judicial  cross-questioning  by 
opposing  attorneys,  to  baffle  and  confuse  your  evidence,  will 
more  than  outweigh  the  satisfaction  that  may  arise  from  vindi- 
cating the  power  of  science  when  exhibited  in  the  service  of 
justice. 
Let  us  now  take  a  view  of  the  relative  position  of  the  dispenser 
and  the  community  or  neighborhood  in  which  he  is  located. 
When  an  apothecary  shop  is  opened,  the  proprietor  tacitly,if 
not  verbally,  announces  that  he  has  prepared  himself  with  the 
knowledge,  skill  and  material  required  to  perform  the  responsi- 
ble duties  that  appertain  to  his  vocation  :  each  family  around 
him  have  a  direct  interest  in  the  truthfulness  of  this  annuncia- 
tion, as,  sooner  or  later,  all  may  be  brought  to  the  necessity  of 
testing  it  practically.  The  nature  of  this  knowledge  and  material 
is  but  obscurely  understood  by  them ;  the  pure  and  the  impure, 
the  inert  and  the  poisonous,  the  true  and  the  genuine,  may  be 
taken  by  each  family  in  the  confidence  they  repose  in  the  ability 
and  honesty  of  their  dispenser.  Gentlemen,  mark  this  beautiful 
relationship  !  reflect  on  the  almost  child-like  reliance  which 
sends  the  family  messenger  to  you  for  aid  for  its  afflicted  mem- 
ber !  How  priceless  is  the  value  of  a  pharmaceutical  reputation, 
when  exalted  by  knowledge  and  skill,  and  adorned  with  con- 
scientiousness and  integrity;  and  with  what  jealous  care  it 
should  be  tended  that  its  brightness  be  not  tarnished. 
Like  the  physician,  though  in  a  different  manner,  the  apothe- 
cary becomes  the  recipient  of  much  that  pertains  to  the  un- 
written history  of  his  neighbors.    In  moments  of  distress,  when 
