23 
cation  does  not  qualify  the  graduate  for  these  responsible  offices, 
we  should,  where  it  is  practicable,  refer  applicants  for  medical 
aid  to  a  regular  physician. 
3d.  As  the  practice  of  Pharmacy  can  become  uniform  only  by 
an  open  and  candid  intercourse  being  kept  up  between  apothe- 
caries, which  will  lead  them  to  discountenance  the  use  of 
secret  formulas,  and  promote  the  general  use  and  knowledge  of 
good  practice,  and  as  this  College  considers  that  any  discovery 
which  is  useful  in  alleviating  human  suffering,  or  in  restoring 
the  diseased  to  health,  should  be  made  public  for  the  good  of 
humanity  and  the  general  advancement  of  the  healing  art, — no 
member  of  this  College  should  originate  or  prepare  a  medicine, 
the  composition  of  which  is  concealed  from  other  members,  or 
from  regular  physicians. 
Whilst  the  College  does  not  at  present  feel  authorized  to  re- 
quire its  members  to  abandon  the  sale  of  secret  or  quack  medi- 
cines, it  earnestly  recommends  the  propriety  of  discouraging 
their  employment,  when  called  upon  for  an  opinion  as  to  their 
merits. 
4th.  The  apothecary  should  be  remunerated  by  the  public  for 
his  knowledge  and  skill,  and  in  his  charges  should  be  regulated 
by  the  time  consumed  in  preparation,  as  well  as  by  the  value  of 
the  article  sold;  although  location  and  other  circumstances 
necessarily  affect  the  rate  of  charges  at  different  establishments, 
no  apothecary  should  intentionally  undersell  his  neighbors  with 
a  view  to  their  injury. 
5th.  As  medical  men  occasionally  commit  errors  in  the  phra- 
seology of  their  prescriptions,  which  may  or  may  not  involve  ill 
consequences  to  the  patient  if  dispensed,  and  be  injurious  to  the 
character  of  the  practitioner,  it  is  held  to  be  the  duty  of  the 
apothecary,  in  such  cases,  to  have  the  corrections  made,  if  pos- 
sible, without  the  knowledge  of  the  patient,  so  that  the  physician 
may  be  screened  from  censure.  When  the  errors  are  of  such  a 
character  as  not  to  be  apparent,  without  the  knowledge  of  cir- 
cumstances beyond  the  reach  of  the  apothecary,  we  hold  him  to 
be  blameless  in  case  of  ill  consequences,  the  prescription  being 
his  guarantee,  the  original  of  which  should  always  be  retained 
by  the  apothecary. 
