EDITORIAL. 
183 
The  Sale  of  Alcohol  by  Apothecaries. — Cannot  something  be  done 
to  relieve  apothecaries  from  the  necessity  of  taking  out  a  liquor  license  in 
order  to  sell  alcohol  for  the  numerous  proper  and  useful  purposes  to 
which  it  is  applied  wholly  unconnected  with  its  use  as  an  ingredient  in 
beverages  ?  According  to  the  ruling  of  J.  W.  Douglass,  Acting  Commis- 
sioner, in  November  last,  "  druggists  and  apothecaries  cannot  sell  al- 
cohol in  quantities  exceeding  half  a  pint  at  one  time,  nor  can  their  sales 
of  alcohol,  including  their  sales  of  other  spirits,  exceed  in  aggregate  cost 
value  the  sum  of  $300  per  annum,  without  liability  to  payment  of  a 
special  tax  as  liquor  dealer."  According  to  the  letter  of  this  rule  an 
apothecary  may  sell  any  officinal  liquor  in  quantity  not  exceeding  half  a 
pint,  and  in  annual  value  not  exceeding  300  dollars.  According  to  an- 
other ruling,  potable  liquors  can  only  be  sold  by  the  apothecary  when 
prescribed  by  a  physician,  unless  he  has  a  license.  Which  is  true  ? — The 
law  certainly  should  leave  the  apothecary  sufficiently  untrammelled  to 
serve  the  proper  need  of  the  sick. 
The  Alumni  Association  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. 
— The  attention  of  those  of  our  readers  who  are  interested  is  requested  to 
the  following : 
The  second  annual  reunion  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  Philadel- 
phia College  of  Pharmacy  will  be  held  on  Monday  evening,  March  21st, 
1870.    A  cordial  invitation  is  extended  to  members  throughout  the  coun- 
try.   Those  desiring  to  attend  will  please  notify  the  Secretary  at  once. 
Any  communications  intended  for  that  occasion  must  be  sent  to 
Clemmons  Parrish,  Secretary, 
800  Arch  St.,  Philadelphia. 
School  of  Pharmacy.  Annual  Commencement. — The  lectures  having 
closed  and  the  examinations  in  progress,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  com- 
mencement ceremonies  will  be  held  in  the  Academy  of  Music,  on  the 
evening  of  March  22d.    The  Valedictory  by  Prof.  Bridges. 
Proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association  at  the  Seven- 
teenth Annual  Meeting,  held  in  Chicago,  III.,  Sept.  1869  ;  also  the  Con_ 
stitution  and  Roll  of  Members.  Philad.,  Merrihew  &  Son,  1870  :  pp. 
468  octavo. 
"The  Proceedings"  came  to  hand  about  the  second  week  in  February, 
and  in  the  execution  of  the  volume  as  regards  printing,  paper  and  bind- 
ing, are  creditable  to  those  concerned  in  getting  it  out.  The  preliminary 
portion,  or  minutes  of  the  meeting,  which  embodies  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  phonographic  report  of  Mr.  Slade,  is  full  of  interest,  and  will  supply 
those  who  did  not  attend  the  meeting  with  a  full  and  connected  account 
of  it.  Mr.  Slade  is  a  most  excellent  reporter.  The  Report  on  the  Pro- 
gress of  Pharmacy,  by  Dr.  Frederick  Hoffmann,  of  New  York,  is  an 
elaborate  work  o   161  pages,  full  of  interesting  details  of  great  value 
