2  2  Revision  of  Pharmacopceia.         {^"' jin^ris^s!''""'' 
lar  divisions,  except  in  cases  when  there  are  but  few  preparations  under 
one  head,  and  where  but  Httle  change  is  necessary  or  can  be  made,  then 
two  or  more  divisions  may  be  included  in  one  report. 
Let  the  value  of  the  prize  be  adjusted  according  to  the  supposed 
magnitude  of  the  labor  involved  in  the  task  and  its  importance.  The 
prize  may  consist  of  money  alone,  as  this  is  a  well-known,  powerful, 
diffusible  stimulant  in  all  the  affairs  of  life,  or  it  may  be  money  together 
with  a  handsome  certificate,  a  medal  or  token  of  some  kind,  as  a 
permanent  evidence  of  what  has  been  achieved.  This  kind  of  reward 
would  be  a  powerful  inducement  for  pharmacists  to  compete  for  the 
prize. 
Money,  for  this  purpose,  could  be  raised,  partly  from  the  funds  of 
the  medical  colleges,  colleges  of  pharmacy,  &c.,  that  could  afford  to 
contribute,  and  partly  from  the  voluntary  contributions  of  individual 
members  of  the  medical  and  pharmaceutical  professions,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, a  small  contribution  could  be  levied  upon  the  proceeds  of  the  sale 
of  the  work,  when  published.  Bv  these  means,  I  am  satisfied,  there 
would  be  little  difficulty  in  procuring  the  necessary  funds  for  the 
purpose. 
The  announcement  of  the  scheme  should  be  made  at  least  five  years 
before  the  meeting  of  the  National  Convention,  in  order  to  give  exper- 
imenters and  investigators  time  to  complete  and  perfect  their  labors. 
For  such  a  work,  requiring  much  time,  especially  when  undertaken  by 
men  who  are  trammeled  and  encumbered  by  the  cares  and  labors,  and 
almost  constant  interruption  of  business,  ample  time  should  be  given. 
Besides,  it  takes  time  to  test  the  stability  of  new  preparations,  and 
also  that  of  old  ones,  as  made  by  modified  formulae  and  processes.  The 
pharmacist  may  make  what  he  believes  to  be  an  improvement  in  a  de- 
fective formula  and  process,  and  be  much  elated  and  feel  proud  of  his 
skill  and  success  ;  but,  alas  !  in  from  four  to  six  months,  or,  perhaps, 
much  sooner,  ''comes  a  frost,  a  killing  frost,"  and  he  beholds  his  hopes 
blasted,  and  experiences  the  mortification  of  witnessing  his  preparation 
spoiled  by  the  insidious  and  destructive  influences  of  time.  The  writer 
has  been  the  victim  of  such  disappointments  in  more  than  one  instance. 
These  reports  should  be  ready  and  be  rendered  to  the  National  Con- 
vention at  its  meeting,  when  they  may  be  read  and  examined,  and  full 
discussion  be  had  upon  the  relative  merits,  and  the  whole  matter  can 
be  then  handed  over  to  the  Committee  of  final  revision,  to  whose  wis- 
dom and  judgment  will  be  left  the  awarding  of  the  prizes. 
