700 
A  Dream  of  the  Future 
( Am.  Jour,  Pharm. 
\       Oct.,  1921. 
(9)  The  disadvantage  of  encouraging  the  sale  and  prescribing 
of  medicines  of  unknown  composition. 
(10)  The  stimulation  of  practical  pharmacists  to  contribute 
original  work  in  the  compilation  of  the  British  Pharmaceutical  Co- 
dex. 
All  these  subjects  are  well  within  the  scope  of  the  professional 
side  of  pharmacy  and  discussions  upon  these  matters  within  local 
association  would  doubtless  prove  of  great  value.  These  associations 
or  local  branches  of  the  Society  could  appoint  delegates  to  an  annual 
conference  or  federation,  which  would  then  focus  the  considered 
opinion  of  their  members  upon  professional  matters. 
Then,  again,  the  various  schools  of  pharmacy  would  greatly 
benefit  by  an  interchange  of  ideas,  experience,  and  methods  between 
the  heads  of  their  different  departments.  An  annual  conference  of 
such  teachers  could  take  place  with  the  object  of  promoting  and  ad- 
vancing the  interests  of  pharmaceutical  education. 
This  brings  me  to  my  last  point.  The  British  Pharmaceutical 
Conference  has  done  and  is  doing  a  great  work  in  stimulating  re- 
search and  maintaining  a  high  standard  of  scientific  pharmacy.  It 
has  for  over  fifty  years  annually  brought  together  pharmacists  and 
others  interested  in  pharmacy  from  all  parts  of  the  United  King- 
dom and  Ireland  and  oft-times  has  welcomed  those  from  the  over- 
seas Dominions.  It  has  published  a  "Year-Book  of  Pharmacy," 
of  which  it  may  well  be  proud.  It  has  received  year  by  year  the 
hearty  welcome  and  enjoyed  the  unstinted  hospitality  of  the  local 
Committee,  and  especially  of  the  municipal  authorities  of  the  cities 
at  which  its  annual  meetings  have  been  held.  It  has  been  a  reunion 
of  those  who  for  the  most  part  have  been  imbued  with  a  true  pro- 
fessional spirit.  It  has  received  delegates  from  local  associations, 
and  has  frequently  discussed  educational  problems.  Cannot  the 
Conference  absorb  within  its  constitution  and  administration  the 
suggested  Federation  of  Local  Associations  and  the  Association  of 
Pharmaceutical  Teachers?  Has  the  Conference  the  necessary  au- 
thority and  funds? 
During  the  war  the  paramount  necessity  for  unity  of  control 
was  seen  to  be  vital  if  victory  was  ultimately  to  be  achieved.  In 
British  pharmacy  today  there  is  need  for  a  closer  union  of  "pur- 
pose, counsel  and  activity"  of  all  those  who  are  working  for  a  full 
realization  of  the  profession  of  pharmacy. 
