32  A  Higher  Degree  in  Pharmacy.       \  Aj1aJ°^yPi92im' 
minimum  of  complex  mathematical  details,  although  it  will  be 
realized  that  workers  in  Physics  are  rapidly  ascending  to  heights 
in  which  the  rarefaction  of  the  mental  atmosphere  will  soon  make  it 
impossible  for  the  person  of  ordinary  education  to  accompany  them, 
and  in  which  they  will  be  invisible  to  those  below  the  cloud  strata 
of  higher  mathematical  formulas. 
A  HIGHER  DEGREE  IN  PHARMACY. 
By  James  F.  Couch. 
Pharmacy  has  never  been  more  in  need  of  research  work  upon 
strictly  pharmaceutical  problems  than  it  is  at  the  present  time. 
The  great  stimulus  to  investigation  which  was  the  joint  effect  of  the 
altered  economic  conditions  caused  by  the  civil  war  and  the  direct 
efforts  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  and  which  de- 
veloped Squibb,  Maisch,  Lloyd,  Hallberg,  Remington,  Diehl  and 
others  reached  its  peak  in  1885  and  has  been  declining  ever  since. 
Today  we  have  little  beside  pharmacological  and  phytochemical 
studies  in  pharmaceutical  literature ;  the  problems  of  pharmacy  are 
left  unattacked  and  unsolved. 
What  has  become  of  the  spirited  discussions  over  the  preserva- 
tion of  fluid  extracts  and  tinctures  which  were  wont  to  absorb  the 
attention  of  the  "scientific  section"  of  bygone  years?  The  problem 
is  still  with  us  for  our  galenicals  still  precipitate.  Has  the  interest 
in  this  strictly  pharmaceutical  question  disappeared  since  the  corner 
druggist  scrapped  his  percolator  and  began  to  purchase  his  galenicals 
from  the  manufacturing  pharmacist? 
What  has  become  of  the  perennial  attempts  to  compound  a 
strong  solution  of  Epsom  salt  with  the  taste  so  disguised  that  the 
objection  to  this  valuable  medicament  might  be  largely  overcome? 
The  solution  of  this  problem  would  be  a  boon  to  pharmacist,  physi- 
cian, and  a  long-suffering  general  public.  The  pecuniary  reward  to 
the  discoverer,  if  he  chose  to  market  his  preparation  as  a  semi- 
proprietary,  would  be  considerable.  And  this  problem  is  not  at  all 
unsolvable.  While  it  may  not  be  quite  as  simple  as  the  debittering 
of  cascara  it  needs  only  determination  and  study  to  ensure  success. 
Many  problems  have  been  partially  or  fully  solved  by  manu- 
facturers. In  most  cases,  however,  the  results  of  such  investiga- 
tions and  the  processes  devised  are  withhe!4  from  publication  and, 
